IMPROVED METHOD OF SHOEING. 59 



change in the shape of the hoofs, which altered from 

 contracted to open expanded feet, during tlie per- 

 formance of very hard work. That this plan should 

 have proved a remedy for the cutting, was no 

 more than I expected, because it had succeeded in 

 numerous instances ; and I acknowledge the 

 practice is nearly coeval with shoeing itself; but 

 if in this said old method of shoeing, somewhat 

 modified, there is to be found the necessary defence 

 for the foot without the natural expansion of the 

 hoof being impeded or restrained by the ring of 

 iron nailed thereon, or, in other words, which will 

 admit of all the functions of the foot being duly 

 performed, I will venture to pronounce it the horse- 

 man's grand desideratum. 



The great mistake in shoeing, which in all proba- a monstrous 



1 •!• • • 1 • 1 I 'IP 11 evil in the aitof 



bility originated with the art itselr, and has con- shoeing piac- 



^ _ ^ ^ ^ tised in every 



tinned up to this hour, consists in the nailins: an age ami in aii 

 unyielding body of iron to both sides or quarters of 

 the foot, when, in truth, there is a necessiti/ for 

 the one side only to be bound or hampered by this 

 iron fetter. 



Now, Mr. Editor, I surmise you are about to ask 

 me, whether I have discovered the means by which 

 the necessary protection of iron can be attached 

 and secured to the foot during constant and quick 

 road work, and yet pierce one side only of the lioof 

 with nails. My answer is in the affirmative, and 

 the proof I have subjected to the test of road work 



