300 THE ONE-SIDED NAILED SHOE. 



THE ONE-SIDED NAILED, OR UNILATERAL SHOE. 



This shoe generally has, upon the outer side, one 

 more than its complement of nails; generally a nail 

 at the centre of the toe, and one or two tolerably close 

 to it, but no more upon the inner side. It was 

 applied by the old farriers, and often with good effect, 

 in the prevention of cutting ; but it is now discovered 

 to have more important uses. The inner quarter, 

 where contraction usually first commences, and where 

 it exists in the greatest degree, is in a manner free ; 

 it can expand when the foot comes on the ground ; and 

 it can contract again when it is lifted in the air. This 

 shoe affords all the defence to the foot for which we 

 have recourse to shoeing; while it leaves much of that 

 natural action to the hoof, the loss of which is the 

 greatest evil inflicted by shoeing. 



When adopted early, it preserves to a very material 

 degree the natural shape of the foot; and, when re- 

 sorted to, after contraction has commenced, it restores, 

 in some measure, the former width of heel. It re- 

 moves that concussion which the animal feels when 

 the shoe is firmly nailed to both quarters. 



It has an appearance of insecurity about it; but 

 that insecurity is only in appearance. The shoe will 

 remain, and last its usual time on the foot of a hack- 

 ney; many stage-coach horses used to run with it, 

 and did not cast their shoes oftener than they formerly 

 did. It would not, however, suit heavy draught- 

 horses; and it might possibly be wrenched from the 

 foot of the hunter when he went over a stiff country. 



