16 



appearance, and protects the heads of the nails fiom wear, bat not better 

 than the square countersink of the stanip if so well; it has however this 

 advantage, that the holes can be made nearer to the outer rim of the shoe; 

 in theFrench shoes therefore the holes are stamped much farther from the 

 outer edge, as there would be danger of bursting the metal if they 

 approached too near the outer edge with a coarse stamp; it is appre- 

 hended also, that the fullering gives the workman more latitude in inserting 

 and driving his nails, which with us in England are brought out higher up 

 the hoof than in France, which we have already staied in Part 2 



The outer limb being finished, the inner limb is next formed, somewhat 

 narrower and finer than the outer, that is straighter and less projecting 

 exteriorly ; the nail holes are also more carefuUy worked near the exterior 

 edge, and are made smaller, nor so near the heels or inflexions of the hoof, 

 and with four holes only instead of five, the number usually made in the 

 outer limb. 



Also in forming the nail holes, atteintion must be paid to tlie direction 

 or sloping of the hoof, those near the toe or front of the shoe should be 

 made inclining backwards; and those at the quarters or sides of the foot 

 more upright, otherwise it is obvious, that the nail cannot be so well 

 driven into the hoof, and must finally bend to accommodate itself to the shoe. 

 , In the working up of old shoes, or such as have been worn out, one and 

 the half of another usually serves to make a new shoe: for this purpose, 

 the shoe being broke or cut asunder, the half is laid on one side of the 

 intire shoe, which is then turned or lapped over it and they are welded 

 into one mass; the middle of the quarter forming the toe of the new shoe. 

 The bind shoes in general are made in this way of the old shoes, these 

 not requiring the same regulär or neat work as the fore shoes. We may 

 indeed remark here, that the bind shoes though in many respects the same 

 are of a very difFerent characterto the fore shoes, being made much 

 stouter at the toe and straighter on the sides, and in general not fullered; 

 in this the natural construction of the feet seem with propriety attended 

 to; for it has been shewn in a former part of this work, that the fore feet 

 are broader, flatter, and more elastic, for the repose of the weight of the 

 auimal, and the bind, stiffer, upright, and less yielding, for impelling the 

 body in swift action. 



The two surfaces of the web of the shoe will admit of muchvariety of 

 figure and degrees of width, which will notconstitute a change of principle 



