120 TIPS AND TOE-WEIGHTS. 



whatever merit there is in it to the pressure on the frog ; when this 

 is effected more in accoixlance with nature, there is a greater gain. 



The Chai'lier is superior on account of its near approach to a 

 natural state, the whole thing being in replacing so much of the wall 

 with a harder material. That it cramps the heel, is also apparent, 

 though far less than the ordinary shoe. The following article is from 

 the Field of February 5th, 1881 : 



During tl^e last fortnight of Arctic weather the state of the Lon- 

 don streets has been a subject of interest to all and sundry, whether 

 they walk or drive. Various feeble efforts have been made with the 

 object of giving foothold to the unlucky horses whose mission it is 

 to drag heavy weights over a surface whose quality of material varies 

 in about eveiy other street. Hei-e we find a shovelful of ashes ; anon 

 we splash into a '•' freezing mixture " (vide Lancet) of salt ; next 

 small curling stones (called by courtesy gravel) are sent sj^inning 

 along the frozen surface by the foot which they are supposed to 

 benefit. Now, there is no sort of reason why horses should not be 

 able to ti-avel over the streets in safety, whatever may be their con- 

 dition. It is merely a question of rational shoeing. In the ordin- 

 ary mode of "roughing" a hoi'se, the heels of his shoe are turned 

 .up, and his foot is thereby prevented from sliding forwai'd on ice, 

 consequently he can stop or even back his load ; but when he wishes 

 to start, and in pursuance of his intention attempts to dig his toes 

 into the ground, his feet fly from him in every direction, and he 

 either falls heavily, or escapes that fate by sheer good luck. Tlie 

 antidote to this evil is simple enough, and why it is not universally 

 applied is a puzzle to me. One would think that the numerous 

 veterinary forges of London ought amongst them to be able to shoe 

 a horse for frosty weather; but, judging from results, the contrary 

 appears to be the case. 



The whole secret of traveling over ice may be expressed in thi'ee 

 words, viz.: "Rough the toe." A catch at the toe of each foot is 

 perfectly effective. With three such catches, one at the toe, and one 

 at each heel, a horse is independent of weather. Snow will ball in 

 a foot so shod ; but in towns that is seldom a very serious consider- 

 ation, as when it balls it is more or less in a state of thaw, and as a con- 



