500 THE HORSE. 



useful in some cases of bad corus, whicli are thus protected from 

 injury ; in sand-crack, the pressure may be removed from either 

 or both sides of the fissure ; pumiced feet may be raised by this 

 shoe above tlie possibility of injury; and in thrush and in can- 

 ker not 6nly is the weight thrown off the diseased part, but any 

 kind of dressing may be easily retained on the sore. It is a 

 shoe, however, that cannot be safely used for any considerable 

 time, or, at least, it requires occasional or even frequent change, 

 on account of its becoming gradually pressed down on the sore 

 part beneath. Bar shoes are not safe for use when much speed 

 is required, and they are dangerous when frost is on the 

 ground. 



Tlie tip is a very different kind of shoe. It reaches but half 

 round the crust. It is used when the horse is at rest ; and, the 

 quarters of this shoe being unfettered, the contracted foot is 

 sometimes enabled to regain its natural open state. It has been 

 tried for road-work, but, as might naturally be expected, it ut- 

 terly failed when often or long used. 



The leather shoe is principally useful when the foot has been 

 injured or inflamed. It, to a considerable degree, breaks the 

 shock, which would otlierwise be painfully felt when the foot is 

 put on the ground. It consists of a piece of leather or felt, 

 about an inch in width, which is placed between the crust and 

 the shoe; and this very materially obviates concussion. It 

 must not, however, be long worn, for the nails cannot always 

 be driven securely ; there will be too much play upon them, 

 and they will become loosened ; also the holes which they ac- 

 curately filled at first will be enlarged, and the crust will be 

 broken away. 



The sole is sometimes entirely covered with leather. This 

 furnishes a temporary defence for the foot, but there is much 

 insecurity of fastening ; the tow or other dressing introduced 

 between the sole and the leather, is not always equably distrib- 

 uted, and frequently the stopping produces a scaly spongy horn, 

 or gravel and dirt will gradually accumulate between the 

 leather and the horn, and the foot will be considerably injured. 

 Gutta percha is substituted with good effect. 



One other shoe, the invention of Mr. Percival, must be men- 

 tioned — the horse-sandal. It consists of a simple apparatus 



