68 TIPS AND TOE-WEIGHTS. 



verse diametei* will still more exceed the longitndirial, the base being 

 very nearly a true circle. Having a set of shoes worn by Sauta 

 Claus, I made a comparison of these and the foot of X X. This 

 must be prefixed, however, with the statement that Santa Claus has 

 an extraordinarily good foot, and, for a horse which has worn shoes, it 

 is in remarkably good condition, no doubt owing to the extra care 

 taken in his shoeing. The transverse measurement of the shoe is 

 4 13-16 inches; it is 5 7-16 long. Doubtless the horn projected a 

 ti'ifle over the sides, and did not come flush with the heel. From 

 the marking on the iron it came within 3-16 of the heel, which 

 would leave 5;^ iaches, though in all probability it was not set flush 

 with the toe. The foot of X X, resting on a paper, made an im- 

 pression which a circle entirely enclosed. The imprint of the shoe 

 of Santa Claus showed an inch posterior of the circle struck from a 

 center the same distance in the rear of the toe as one-half the trans- 

 verse diameter. This proves the structural change incidental on 

 shoeing, and when a naturally superior foot, supplemented with the 

 very best care, exhibits this departui-e from the true form, what 

 must be the efiect on the foot of a yearling, hampered with the full 

 shoe at the most active period of growth 1 Something akin to that 

 which the infant shoe, continued on the ladies of high bu-th in 

 China, during the period of growth, displays, with the deformity as 

 much pronounced in degi-ee. The tip, properly adjusted, does not 

 interfere with the growth in the least. Placed anterior to the widest 

 ■diam_eter, the growth is not hindered, and the horn is at full liberty 

 to expand in every direction. On Wednesday, the first of this month 

 (December), the off" fore foot of Anteeo was placed on a paper, and 

 the outline accurately marked. This was bisected with a line from 

 the center of the toe to the heel, and midway of these points a right 

 angle was struck. The length was 4| inches, and the width was 

 exactly the same. A circle from the point at the intersection of 

 these two lines struck the toe, outside quarter, and the heels, but 

 came a little outside of the inside quarter ; otherwise the foot was 

 nearly round. The disparity in tke growth of tlie diffei-ent sides of 

 the foot is partially owing to natural causes, partly to individual 

 characteristics. As all men who have given attention to the horse's 



