32 



and the resistance of the shoe is entirely overcome by this 

 mode of fastening. Tliis very desirable end appears to be 

 attained in the following manner ; the outer side and toe 

 being the only part of the foot nailed to the shoe, leaves the 

 inner quarter and heel unattached, and therefore free to ex- 

 pand ; whereby all strain upon the nails is avoided, and the 

 foot is left with res23ect to its power of exj^ansion as nearly, 

 as possible in a state of nature. 



A a unexjjected benefit has ai-isen to one of my horses from 

 this plan in the total disappearance of two very troublesome 

 corns ; they had existed in his feet for ten years, during 

 seven of which I tried every thing, that I had ever heard of, 

 as likely to effect a cure, both in form of shoe and local 

 application, without however any decided advantage ; but the 

 adoption of this plan of fastening the shoe to tlie foot, by 

 removing all restraint and pressure from the part, has acci- 

 dentally achieved tliat, which I had so long sought in vain. 



About this time I learned, that a commercial traveller, 

 who was detained in Exeter on account of an accident, had 

 for some time past employed only five nails, placed in the 

 outer limb and toe of his horse's fore shoes ; upon heai'ing 

 which I made a point of seeing him ; and he informed me, 

 that he always performed his journeys on horseback ; that 

 they averaged full five thousand miles a year ; and that his 

 comfort necessarily depended very much upon the freedom of 

 action, and safe going of his horse ; that some time ago he 

 found him stepping short, and going tenderly, and consulted 

 a veterinary surgeon about it, who advised liis being shod 

 with five nails only upon the one-sided plan of nailing, 



