494 FROSTING SCREW — LOW HOOF. [BOOK III. 



approved method of our times ; for the nail-holes 

 that are to be punctured in this groove are thus 

 brought too near the edge of the horn, so that the 

 nails do not hold fast, unless driven and clenched 

 high up on the hoof, which also is an exploded 

 part of practice. Neither should the fullering be 

 continued round the toe, nor to the quarters, lest 

 you weaken the defence where its protection is most 

 required. 



Iron is the only proper material, and the 

 toughest is the best defence, as it affords a small de- 

 gree of elasticity in action, is least likely to crack, 

 and is capable of being hardened at the wearing 

 points, at will. The toe alone is usually hardened 

 at the time of making, unless in winter, when it 

 may be found necessary to turn down the heels, 

 termed frosting, when these may also be hardened, 

 or steeled. 



Some persons frost all their shoes in winter, by 

 fullering them over all the ground surface ; but 

 this rough soon wears away, or is of little service 

 from the first. On turning the heel down, a crip- 

 pling gait is produced if the rough be long, espe- 

 cially with heavy horses, having low hoofs, which 

 may be counteracted, so long as the roughing lasts, 

 by turning down the toe also, and steeling both. 

 But then the necessity of frequently removing the 

 shoe, and thus impairing the wall or crust, may be 

 remedied by making screw-holes in the ground- 

 surface of the heels, and providing a suitable sup- 

 ply of screws with steel heads, that may be applied 

 1 



