I 



INTRODUCTORY. 



I present this little volume with apologies, requesting the forbear- 

 ance of my readers for the want of connection, and in many cases 

 repetitions, which are due to the desultory manner the work has been 

 done. This is in a great measure owing to awaiting the results of 

 expei'iments and taking up the subject after the lapse of long inter- 

 vals. As the expei'iments progi'essed parts were written and pub- 

 lished, and then there would arise questions which necessitated fur- 

 ther delays. At one time I thought of rewriting the whole work, 

 It which would have afforded the opportunity to correct the lack of con- 

 tinuity, and then I thought it better to present it as it was, thus 

 giving the stages as they occurred. The first chapter was published 

 in April, 1876, and nearly eight years have been occupied in experi- 

 menting, and though confined to a small number of horses, the ex- 

 tension over so long a period has made the trials equivalent to a 

 larger number of cases for a shorter time. In fact, the experiments 

 could not have been can-ied out in a less space than three years, as 

 in tlie case of Anteeo, a colt was taken as a subject from the first 

 time of shoeing, when fifteen and a half months old until nearly four 

 years of age. By taking an animal as young as Anteeo, and contin- 

 ing the use of tips until so neai"ly matured, the test was thorough as 

 to the effect on the feet and legs. Previous to that the diftex-ences be- 

 tween full. shoes and tips were tried, the beai'ing on the i-elative trot- 

 ting speed being the object, and the results in every case were in 

 favor of tips, so that if it was further proven that the theory of following 

 nature as closely as possible was the pi'oper procedure to keep the feet 



