A PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION. ^ 93 



results of wearing tips in the sti-engthening of the posterior portion 

 of the foot. Tlie angle between the bars and the walls, the seat of 

 corns, is filled with a dense, elastic material, which does not show a 

 trace of the discoloration which is nearly univei'sal in shod horses. 

 The frog is as elastic as a piece of solid rubber, and the point of it 

 extends to within a short distance of the toe. A few days ago, I 

 was resetting the tips on X X and fortunately a neighbor was watch- 

 ing the operation, who adhered firmly to the old, old methods of 

 shoeing. He had frequently urged the necessity of protection, and 

 could not see why the quartei's and heels should requii'e it less than 

 the toe. It was a good opportunity to make one convert, and with- 

 out acquainting him of my intention, I led the conversation to shoe- 

 ing. He combat ted the statements energetically, laying the greatest 

 stress on the liability of bruises. He admitted that the chief amount 

 of friction was at the toe, and an old shoe which had the toe entirely 

 worn through at the outer edge, with quite a thickness of iron at the 

 heel, was proof of that fact if he had not admitted it. The blow 

 • came on the heel first, and as the foot rolled over the pivotal point, 

 the friction wore away the metal. 



" But," he said, " the fact that the blow is mainly on the heel 

 shows the necessity for protecting that with a hard material. In a 

 natui-al state horses roam over an uncultivated country. Thei'e is 

 either growing herbage, fallen leaves, or snow, to make a cushion for 

 the foot to strike upon ; but on traveled roads, on the paved streets 

 of a citv, on the solid body of macadam such as the streets of Oak- 

 land, there must be protection." I replied with the query : " Mr. 



J , what, in your opinion, would be the effect of driving a horse 



wearing tips, for years nearly every day, and fast enough to be called 

 a cood traveler, on these Oakland streets, and on the roads in the 

 vicinit)-'?" "Bruises on the heel, and the wearing away of the un- 

 protected parts so as to make the animal too sore for use, and if per- 

 sisted in ther^ would be violent inflammatory action which ultimately 

 would destroy the foot." " Very well," was the answer, "and if 

 you have an hour or two to spare I will endeavor to convince you of 

 the error of your views." This conversation took place in the house, 

 and before going to the barn I showed liim how the horse had been 



