35 



commissures, and the angles between the heels and the bars ; 

 these parts should be filled to a level with the body of the 

 frog, so as to enable them to share the pressure with it ; 

 but none should be permitted to rest uj^on the frog itself. 

 The long straggling ends should be collected together, and 

 spread over the sole, the ends of one side being made to 

 overlap those of the other ; by this plan they will become 

 fixed in the tar, with which the foot otight previously to 

 have been Hberally dressed, and will materially assist in over- 

 coming the tendency, that the tow has, to work itself out. 



Much of the inconvenience, supposed to arise from shoeing 

 with leather, is caused by the injudicious placement of the 

 tow. I believe, that many horses derive gi'eat comfort from 

 having leather inserted between the foot and the shoe, 

 particularly when the surface of the roads is broken up, and 

 strewed with loose stones ; its use is sometimes objected to 

 on the ground, that it rots the frog ; but this is altogether 

 a mistake ; what appears to be decayed frog, is nothing more, 

 than an accumulation of the natural exfoliation of horn, 

 which the presence of the leather has not allowed to escape. 



In the first edition I omitted to say anything about the 

 treatment of the hind foot, because I considered it of less 

 importance, than that of the fore foot ; but, as I was 

 repeatedly assured, that a few general remarks upon it 

 would not prove altogether unacceptable, I availed myself 

 of the first opportunity, that offered, of appending them. 



The hind foot certainly does not demand the same measui'e 

 of attention, as the fore foot, in as much as its position 

 in the horse, and the nature of its office render it less 



