304 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



favorable to this invention, because it keeps the shoe tight, and 

 all that IS required is to occasionally take off the shoe and rasp 

 the hoof so as to keep it from becoming too confined in the shoe. 

 In experiments of using this kind of shoe, made of malleable 

 iron, it has been tried for three months, and found to answer well. 

 In reply to several questions, Mr. S. said it did not make more 

 noise than the ordinary shoe, and is not more expensive, being 

 made easier, and the upper portion being made separate from the 

 lower, does not require renewing. 



Professor Mapes did not rise to object, but to state that some 

 years ago an experiment was made in England to avoid the neces- 

 sity for nails in horse-shoes, by means of two fastenings coming 

 upon each side of the hoof, and a small pin made to run through 

 the hoof from the fastenings on one side to those on the other, 

 but this kind of shoe was abandoned from the fact that it confined 

 the hoof, and consequently caused inflammation. He feared 

 there would be trouble here in the present instance. 



Mr. Short said he would leave it to the judgment of the gentle- 

 men present which would be the most likely to cause inflamma- 

 tion, nails driven into the hoof all round, or a shoe which is 

 made to fit the hoof, and which can be taken off at pleasure so as 

 to fit the hoof to it when it shall have outgrown the shoe. He 

 would recommend the taking off of the shoe every evening when 

 the horse is in the stable — an operation which would add much 

 to the liealth and comfort of the animal, as the hoof could be 

 kept perfectly clean. 



Judge Meigs inquired how the horses were found to like the 

 new shoe. 



Mr. Short — It has been tried on a very fine, high-spirited ani- 

 mal, and its owner said the horse was proud of his new shoes. 

 In some of them the upper portion is coated with silver. I have 

 no doubt if the horses could speak, I should soon have a vote of 

 thanks. [Laughter.] 



Mr. Robinson, after examining the drawings of the English 

 plan spoken of by Professor Mapes, said, although by that plan 

 they did away with the necessity for nails, yet, as they drove 

 wires through the hoof, and clinched them on the other side, it 

 amounts to almost the same thing, as the shoe could not be re- 

 moved at pleasure. I am inclined to believe that the invention 

 of Mr. Short is the first by which the necessity for nailing and 

 clinching has been removed by the cap over the upper portion of 

 the hoof. Let the plan be fairly tried. It can soon be deter- 



