94 The Compleat Horfeman : or, 



and the Smiths thinking to make them go eafily, 

 make them hollow Shoes which reft only upon the 

 Horn in the out- fide of the Heel, and by that means, 

 becaufe the Shoes by degrees conftrain the Foot, 

 they make it grow daily ftraiter at the Heel *, the 

 little Bone alfo which is in the middle of the Coffin 

 prefTes downwards towards the Sole, the Toe 

 grows long, and fo the Feet become ill-fhaped and 

 unferviceable ^ now to help and rectify all thefe 

 Inconveniences, the Panton fhoe being forged and 

 pierced near the edge of the Toe, as I told you, 

 you ihall cut more or lefs from the Horfe's Toe 

 with a Cutting-Knife, as you ihall think fit \ then 

 fit the Shoe fo, that the flopings or thick parts of 

 its Spunges may enter within the corners of the 

 Frufh, and being flat at the Toe that it may reft 

 upon the Horn •, but although it reft a little upon 

 the Sole it matters not, and faften it with thin 

 Nails •, alfo put into his Foot a Reftri&ive made of 

 Chimney-foot and Turpentine boiled together, and 

 anoint his Hoof with Hoof-falve \ then let his Feet 

 ftrengthen and be eafed of the Pain, which that new 

 manner of Shoeing will occafion, and that for the 

 fpace of twelve Days or more, until he leave halt- 

 ing ; afterwards let him work by degrees, and af- 

 ter three or four Shoeings, if the Horfe be not old, 

 his Foot will take a good fhape. This which I fpeak 

 is not by {peculation, but founded upon a great ma- 

 ny Experiences. 



It is a great abufe to vault Shoes when People 

 may forbear it (and it may for the molt part be 

 omitted) becaufe the Foot being nailed and made 

 faft to the Shoe, it groweth and taketh the fhape or 

 form of the Shoe \ and Nature finding that pafTage 

 open, thro' the inclination which fhe hath to fur- 

 nifb a fuperfluous nourifhment to the under part of 

 the Sole, prefleth always that way, and is alfo 

 helped by the hollow Shoe to give that round form 



to 



