32 



nieans of a hammer, or even a stone, if this shoukl be wauting, and is 

 secured by a screw, h, passing: laterally iuto the wall of the hoof through 

 the Perforation, e, of the helmet; or otherwise, by a purchase against the 

 side of the hoof, by a tooth lodging in a notch of the wall, and secured 

 by a web, thong, or strap, passing round the hoof, and, if necessary, over 

 the Coronet, and is either simple or padded— see Fig. 4. 



In a journey made to Bath a few weeks after the one I have before 

 described, I drove on a pair of these paratrites, and then performed the 

 journey with ease in three days, the Avhole way to Bath. The weather 

 being fine much favoured the experiment, and I took advantage occasion- 

 ally of the grass and loose sand which presented Ijy the road side. Other 

 exaniples I might also state of their use. I once rode from Cherril, a 

 village in Wiltshire, near Calne, to London, a distance of more than 

 eighty-six miles, in two days, without any other defence, and with no 

 defence whatever to the bind feet. . The weather was particularly line, and 

 the roads dry and dusty. I was often surprised, in making these experi- 

 ments, at the comparatively slight degree of wear, which the heels of the 

 hoof, or rather the posterior angles of inflection, suflered. I once drove 

 a hob-nail, such as ploughmen use in their shoes, by way of assistance to 

 the paratrite, into the angular colunin of the inflection, near Marlborough, 

 and I v/as astonished to find that the hammer markings on the head of 

 it were hardly effaced, on my arrival at Hyde Park Corner. This I am 

 induced to mention, as it is contrary to general apprehension in respect to 

 these parts. 



This thin casing of steel does not materially disturb the natural bearr 

 ings of the hoof on the . ground ; and I have found that one of a very 

 moderate thickness will endure the wear of a hundred miles. There is 

 no objection to leather being interposed between the paratrite and the 

 hoof, especially between the inferior plate or rubber, which is next the 

 ground. I might also hint to those who may manufacture them, that 

 there must be no incongruity or want of harmony in the direction of 

 the teeth. Other constructions of the purchase lever are seen at Fig. 6, 

 7, and 8, with and without a Joint to the hook, and one with an adjusting 

 screw. Another mode of attaching them is seen at Fig. 9, by means of 

 a screw ; the two claws, a, h, driven against a notch in the hoof by 

 the screw, d, will force the piece, e, against the top of the paratrite, n, and 

 so draw it on and fix it to the hoof. Another Suggestion for preventing 



