WORK WITH NATURE. 133 



contracted feet. If our aim is perfection, we must work with nature, 

 and not against her ; and I would ask any man with a grain of com- 

 mon sense if the above method is in harmony with the rules laid 

 down by nature. If it is not, then I say the sooner we discontinue 

 such an idiotic system the better for all concerned. Why, let me ask, 

 do we shoe horses' feet at all ? For the simple reason that the wear 

 and tear of the crust is greater than the growth. It is then with 

 the cinist, and the crust only, that we have to deal in order to make 

 a horse perform his allotted task without injury to the foot; and if 

 we can do that, and at the same time pi'eserve the same even bearing 

 of the foot which it possessed in its natural state, I think we shall 

 then have arrived as near perfection as any reasonable man can ex- 

 pect. Well, I say we can do it if we put into practice Chai'lier's 

 system ; but it must be carried out to the very letter, otherwise we 

 shall be subject to disappointment, and apt, like many othei's, to con- 

 demn that which we do not iinderstand. I have before me a hoof — 

 or rather an imitation of one — given to me by M. Charlier some 

 twelve years ago, showing very distinctly how a foot should be pre- 

 pai'ed and shod on his principle, and I shall be pleased to show it to 

 any one sufficiently interested to inspect it. In (conclusion, let me 

 advise those who are prejudiced against his system, and those who 

 have never tried it, first to get well acquainted with it by having it 

 properly explained, next see that his principle is can-ied out in every 

 detail every time of shoeing, and then give it a thorough trial, and I 

 am convinced that they will be more than satisfied, and regi-et that 

 they did not try it sooner, G. Johnson. 



34, Woods-mews, Jan. 26. 



HORSE SHOEING. 



Sir, — Will you allow me the opportunity of collecting " Mus- 

 tang's " misapprehension in supposing that I had " advocated the use 

 of many nails," as what I had intended was to state the necessity for 

 more than three nails in fastening on a full Charlier shoe, in contra- 

 distinction to the "infinitessimal tips" only, referred to by " Impecu- 

 niosus " "in your last issue. This practical necessity, as I had 



