36 TREATISE ON HORSE-SHOEING. 



must fill the hollow between the frog and the crust 

 on both sides with oakum (which is better for the 

 purpose than tow) dipped in the tar, pressing it 

 well into the hollow until the mass rises above the 

 level of the frog on each side; but never put any 

 oakum upon the frog itself, excepting a piece in the 

 cleft to prevent the dirt and grit working in; very 

 little is ever wanted on the sole in front of the frog. 

 The use of the oakum is to protect the foot, but 

 more especially the navicular joint, which lies above 

 and across the frog, from being jarred by stones on 

 a hard road; and the best way of doing this is to 

 fill the space on each side of the frog with oakum 

 in such a manner that it shall share the pressure 

 with the frog and prevent the full force of the 

 shock from falling on the navicular joint. 



The usual mode of stopj)ing a foot is to place a 

 thick wad of tow over the whole surface of sole 

 and frog together, making bad worse, by adding 

 to the projection of the frog and causing it to 

 meet the ground sooner and receive the full force 

 of the jar. 



