and as to the mode of fastening, it is in all respects the same, viz. with 

 nails, that it is a.s frrnily attaclied as they can be. 



The shoe itself I do iiot claim as any novelty; foi" it is often seen hanging 

 as a curiosity against the walls of forges, and has been calied by some the 

 huntiug- shoe, being, as it was said, soiuetimes taken into the fteld by the 

 huntsman, and if any shoe can)e off during tlie sport and was lost, tliis 

 *iupplied its place; — possessing the power of dilating and contracting, it 

 fitted all, if a viUage smith could but be found to nail it on. It is not there- 

 fore the shoe itself, but the new principle für its application, that I claim, 

 and the discovery of the real structure and habits of the hoof, which 

 indicate its necessity, as also the rendering it practicably useful by the Sub- 

 stitution of the steel-headed rivet for a common ii'on pin, without which it 

 would be scarcely of any real value. 



Jt will now be necessary to advance sorae proofs that this shoe does not 

 ■contract the foot, which I believe can be established satisfactorily. An 

 experinient was carefuUy made on my young bay stallion, got by Waxy out 

 a celebiated Hungarian niarc, and bred by the late Lord Heathfteld; he is 

 now nearly six years old, and has been sliod with thesc shoes niorc than a 

 Iwelvemonth, without the least contraction of the hoof whatever, which 

 continues as round as an apple, and his going is bold, extensive, and firm; his 

 frogs, which never instrument touched, are a model of this organ, and de- 

 monstrate most clearly the perfect absurdity and foUy of slicing away 

 Ott any pretence the hörn of this part. 



The same experiment has been made by my friend, John Hall, Esq. of 

 Pinney Cliffs, Devonshire, with the same satisfactory results, but with himthe 

 horse had previously been shod, and contraction of the foot had com- 

 menced, which it completely remedied, and restored his action ; some others 

 also of my friends have found them equally beneficial.^ — For the appearance 

 of this shoe, see Plate 2, Fig. 10. 



We may see the movement of the shoe, by taking up the foot between the 

 hands and squeezing it; on relaxing the pressure, the shoe and foot may be 

 seen to fly open again. 



To witness the effects of a common shoe, one was put on for six weeks, 

 and an impressed ring took place round the Coronet, or rather upper part 

 of the hoof, as described before at page 93 of the Second Part, which shows 

 this to be a delicate and useful test on a new foot. 



Perhaps a farther improvement on it would be, to make the hinge, not in 

 tlie middle, but on one side, and instead of makingthe toe perfectly round, to 



