19 



not understood, is the cause of the inside of the foot being so offen 

 bruized, and with corns, more frequently than the outside. The sole is 

 also generally lioUowed out a little, round the whole circumference of tlie 

 foot, to prevent the possible risk of a contact with the shoe. To ascertain 

 the bearings of the shoe, it is usual to warm the shoe, bot enough to 

 scorch the hörn, and the points of contact are then renioved from the 

 foot, by the knife, or beat out of the shoe, or both, tili a level, uniform, 

 bearing is obtaiued; a view of this practice has afforded ample opportu- 

 nity for declaimers nnpractised in the art to accuse the smiths of burning 

 the feet, and of attributing the evils they experienced to this cause, which, 

 though it may sometinies be abused, is comparatively of no signification, 

 compared with the evils we have exposed. 



For the differeut kinds or varieties of these shoes, we refer the reader to 

 the enumeration in the Second Part of this Work, and also to the 

 annexed Plate. 



On fastening the Shoe to the Foot.—'T\\e shoe being prepared and 

 properly fitted, passes irito the hands of another workman, called the 

 Doorman, who holds a subordinate place to the fireman or maker of the 

 shoe, and also reoeives less wages. He however in making the shoe, 

 strikes to the fireman, acting under his guidance and direction. 



The nails for shoeing horses, as they are received from the hands of the 

 manufacturer, are soft, without any point, variously bent, and totallyunfit 

 for use, tili they have passed through a process, requiring some slight and 

 dexterity, called Pointing the Nail; they receive for this purpose a smart 

 hammering from the band of the doorman, on an iipright steel-headed 

 shaft, termed the Stake, beginning at the head of the nail and continuing 

 it along the shank on both sides and edges to its extremity, which is then 

 drawn out to a clear point. By this means, the nail is rendeied hard and 

 stiff, and its surface smooth and polished. But of as much or more con- 

 eequence than this, is, the figure which the point of the nail is made to 

 receive, for, after it has been drawn to a clear good point, the workman 

 gives it a final stroke, obliquely directed over, or upon, the very extremity 

 of the nail, so as to impart to it the figure of an inclined plane on one side, 

 leaving it perfecily flat on the other. This bevelling of the point of the 

 nail is of the greatest use in driving it, giving it always a tendency to pass 

 out of the hoof, from the bevel being placed next the interior of the hoof, 

 which facilitates the process of shoeing very much; and greatly diminishes 



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