SHOEING. 635 



We observe also that the excessive wear is always at the toe, 

 and that the heels rarely suffer even on bad roads. Consequently 

 the best shoeing for the feet, for all roads and seasons, when in 

 a good condition of health, must be such as will permit them to 

 be as nearly barefoot as possible, or at least that the posterior part 

 is so, yet sustaining all the attrition of wear to which they may 

 be subjected. This being true, the object, then, of shoeing should 

 be to prevent excessive wear, give power, and prevent slipping, 

 which necessitates the following conditions : First, the preparation 



FIG. 436. Side view of a properly proportioned shoe. 



of the foot; second, the weight, form, and fitting of the shoe; and 

 third, nailing to the foot. 



First, in preparing the foot for the shoe, the aim should be to 

 cut away so much of the wall as would be a surplus of growth, 

 or so much only as would bring it back to its natural form and 

 adjustment. 



Second, the shoe should be in form, so that when on, the ad- 

 justment of the foot, or its power to obtain hold or grasp upon the 

 ground, will be as nearly as possible what it was before being 

 shod, and yet sustain the wear for the tune it is intended to be on. 



Third, it should be nailed on firmly, yet so as to break or 

 weaken the wall of the hoof as little as possible, and not interfere 

 with the freedom of the quarters, or enlargement of the foot as it 

 grows. 



Pedestrians who are compelled to study carefully the fitting 



