36 



weakened by a long, thin point, will form a broad, firm 

 clench ; and thus the fastening will be as secure, as possible. 



The second on the contrary is very likely to have the 

 broadest part of its triangular head tightly wedged in the 

 upper portion of the hole, while its narrower base and 

 shoulder remain, as it were, suspended in the lower portion, 

 affording no assistance whatever towards keeping on the 

 shoe, and, as the long, fine point must of necessity produce 

 a weak, narrow clench, it is evident, that the continuance 

 of the shoe on the foot will be of very doubtful diu-ation. 



Before a nail is driven, care must be taken to ascertain 

 that the holes are large and free, and moreover that they 

 pass straight through the shoe ; whereby the operation of 

 driving will be greatly simplified, and the secmity of the 

 hold considerably increased, for if the hole incline inwards, 

 which it too commonly does, the nail must split its way 

 out high up in the crust in the direction of the fibres of 

 the horn, whereas if the hole is made straight through the 

 shoe, the nail will pass at once across the fibres of the 

 horn, and appear low down on the surface of the hoof ; it 

 must then be cut off, leaving a short end, to form a clenclj, 

 and a slight notch made in the hoof by the edge of the 

 rasp, to receive it, in which it should be buried by the ham- 

 mer, and the rasp on no account be permitted to jaass over 

 it, after it has been once securely turned down ; for the 

 action of the sharp, steel rasp upon the soft iron clench, 

 however lightly it may be applied, is almost sure either to 

 cut it through entirely, or, what amounts to the same thing, 



