20 



the risk of piicking the horse, for the foot being softer within than it is 

 externally, naturally draws the nail in that direction. 



The nail niostly used at present has a long conical head, with a view of 

 fixing it tight in the shoe; and the pritchel point is directed to be made of 

 the same figure, that it may be the more firmly fixed.* We are led to ap- 

 prehend that this extreme flxedness and solidity of the nails is adverse to 

 the ease of the foot, and are disposed to prefer the old nail with a Square 

 obtuse head, abruptly rising from the shank; by which the hoof has some 

 chance of being less restrained, and the shoe as to firinness, will be firm 

 enough on, for every purpose. This nail, we believe, has been sometimes 

 called the rose-headed nail. Where the conical nail is used, if the head be 

 very long, part of it is apt to enter the hoof, and distending it, must add 

 cousiderably to the compression of the interior of the foot. 



The shoe being well fitted, as wide, or little wider than the hoof, and 

 brought to an equal bearing every where round the wall, is presented by 

 the doorman to the foot for nailing on ; the first nail usually driven is one 

 near the toe, on the side of the foot next the right band of the workman, 

 as presenting more commodiously to the hamraer; this niay draw the shoe 

 out of its place, which is again adjusted by a blow or two of the hammer 

 on the projecting side, bending the nail or forcing the hoof, or both; the 

 second nail is then passed through the hoof on the opposite side, which 

 renders it in a degree fixed; the rest are then driven pretty much indis- 

 criminately, smaller nails are however used near the heels or inflexions, 

 on account of the hörn being thinner. The presentation or planting the 

 point of the nail first in the hoof, in order to give it a proper direction 

 for driving, is called by the smiths pitching the nail; this is done with the 

 finger and thumb, and on its being judiciously chosen, the success of driving 

 the nail, it is obvious, will much depend: in giving the first strokes of the 

 hammer, they strike not on the flat part of the head of the nail, but on its 

 exterior edge, and when safe in the hoof, or nearly home upon the flat 

 head, the sniith is led to judge by the sound, as also by the resistance the 

 nail makes to the hammer, whether it is in its right course or not, and he 

 aims to bring out the nails as nearly at equal distances as may be, round the 

 hoof, and at equal heights up the hoof, the accuracy of which exhibits the 

 workman: on the first entering of the nail he proceeds with caution; but 



For a figure of this conical-lieaded nail, »ee Professor Coleman's Treatisc on the Foot and Shoeine^ 

 Part I. 



