OF SHOEING. 39 



frame has been so beautifully and aptly constituted 

 by nature, that it will stand a vast amount of abuse 

 and ill-treatment without sustaining any material 

 injuiy. 



The reader has only to observe the toe of a 

 straight shoe that has been worn for a month, in 

 order to see how nature has altered its shape. It 

 is now completely rounded off, and not only so, 

 but if it be placed on a flat surface, towards the 

 Mght, it will be seen that it is completely arched 

 underneath, and if looked at from behind, the Hght 

 may be seen under it. It may be remarked, that 

 the under surface of the cof&n bone is similarly 

 arched underneath. 



Straight shoes also necessitate the use of heavier 

 iron than is required if the wear is more evenly 

 distributed over the whole surface. 



42. From what has been advanced, the reader Toes of the 

 would probably expect to find the foot of an unshod coit. 

 colt rounded off at the toe. Naturally, of course, 

 the foot would be so rounded off, but in this country, 

 at least, it is not easy to find a fair case, for colts, 

 though at grass, are seldom really in a state of 

 nature. They are generally kept on soft pastures, 

 and have no distance to travel in search of food 

 or water, and there is, therefore, little wear and 

 tear of the hoof. 



