34 



to Imve been eminently successful : the character of the 

 horn in the course of the first year had changed from 

 brittle and shaky to tirm and tough, and afforded secure nail 

 hold in every part. On one occasion when I examined his 

 shoes, which had been removed three weeks before, and were 

 entirely worn out, I considered, if I recorded the particulars 

 of the examination, wliich 1 made of them previously to his 

 being re-shod, it might prove interesting to those, who, 

 like myself, wished to know, how little would retain a 

 shoe, when it had once been accurately fitted to the foot. 

 The shoes were securely held to the feet, and the clenches 

 unmoved : not one of the nails had penetrated quite an inch 

 up the crust, befoi'e it was brought out, and clenched down ; 

 and that on the inside, wHch was five inches and three 

 quarters from the heel, barely extended tliree quarters of an 

 inch up the crust ; tins is fight fastening ; and, I take it, 

 could only succeed, where the horn had become solid, and 

 the shoe had been fitted with great care : the smallest uneven 

 bearing of the crust upon the shoe, or the least projection 

 of the shoe beyond the hoof at the quarters, or sides of the 

 heels would to a certainty have endangered its security. 



I may here remark, that the habit of encumbering the 

 sole and frog with a thick layer of tow between them and 

 the leather is very objectionable ; it causes unnecessary 

 pressure, and should for this reason be avoided. The 

 principal object of the tow is to block up the openmgs, 

 through which gravel and dfit would otherwise insinuate 

 themselves between tlie leather and the foot ; its presence 

 should therefore be confined to the cleft of the frog, the 



