62 IMPROVED METHOD OF SHOEING. 



not been customary for authors on the foot and shoe- 

 ing to have given the smith specific directions to 

 attend to this pecuHar conformation of the outside 

 SprWi^the quarter of the foot ; but have left this rude artisan 

 iniiilnc°/onhe to supposc, that whcu he appHes a shoe of a cir- 

 of ti'ehoofr " cular form to the colt's foot, he is imitating the na- 

 tural sliape of the hoof: but that the colt's foot 

 may be made to assume such a shape, how griev- 

 ously must the drawing knife and rasp first mutilate 

 the outside quarter or wall, instead of merely re- 

 moving superfluous or exuberant parts. 



I am the more induced to insist on the neces- 

 sity of the flowing outside quarter of the colt's foot 

 being held sacred, and to shield it from the out- 

 rage of the rasp, because I flatter myself, that with 

 the young and perfect subject I am about to sub- 

 vert the present system of shoeing, and establish 

 that which I have just recommended, by fettering 

 with nails only one half of the foot, instead of incar- 

 cerating the entire organ, upon the free elasticity 

 of which all the grace and splendour of this mag- 

 nificent animal depend. 



