NOTES ON SHOEING OF HORSES. 9 



counteract tlie splitting tendency of the nails, and 

 to enable it to retain the shoe securely. 



Against the propriety of rasping even these lower 

 portions of the crust there further remains the 

 obvious mechanical evil of reducing and weakening 

 that very portion of the crust on which the shoe 

 immediately rests, and which, when preserved in all 

 its entirety and strength, is not more than sufficient 

 to sustain the superincumbent weight of the horse, 

 and to carry the shoe safely, so as to prevent undue 

 pressure upon the sole. 



9. The crust, then, must not be touched on the Oust not 



to be rasp- 

 outside with the rasp, except so far as is necessary ed. 



to round off its lower edge, hefore the shoe is 

 nailed on, in a manner that will be hereafter de- 

 scribed. 



10. The crust will indeed need to be lowered, but Ci-ust to be 

 this must be done by removing with the drawing- 

 knife from its ground surface so much as may be 

 necessary, that is, so much as has grown during the 

 month, and having grown has been protected by the 

 presence of the shoe from that wear to which it 



would have been naturally subjected in an animal 

 without shoes. 



The lowering of the crust may be effected with 

 the rasp, but it is better and more quickly done with 

 the knife. 



