THE UNILATERAL SHOE. 349 



from bruises, and, as much so as the frog will permit, to covei 

 the seat of corn. 



On the foot side it is seated. The outer part of it is accurately 

 flat, and of the width of the crust, and designed to support the 

 crust, for by it the whole weight of the horse is sustained. 



Towards the heel this flattened part is wider and occupies the 

 whole breadth of the web, in order to support the heel of the 

 crust and its reflected part — ^the bar ; thus, while it defends the 

 horn included within this angle from injury, it gives that equal 

 pressure from the bar and the crust, which is the best preventive 

 against corns, and a powerful obstacle to contraction. 



It is fastened to the foot by nine nails — five on the outside and 

 four on the inner side of the shoe ; those on the outside extend- 

 ing a little farther down towards the heel, because the outside 

 heel is thicker and stronger, and there is more nail-hold ; the last 

 naQ on the inner quarter being farther from the heel, on account 

 of the weakness of that qua,rter. For feet not too large, and 

 where moderate work only is required from the horse, four nails 

 on the outside, and three on the inside, wiU be suflacient ; and 

 the last nail being far from the heels, will allow more expansion 

 there. 



The inside part of the web is bevelled off, or rendered concave, 

 that it may not press upon the sole. Notwithstanding the shoe, 

 the sole does, although to a very inconsiderable extent, descend 

 when the foot of the horse is put on the groimd. It is unable 

 to bear constant or even occasional pressure, and if it came in 

 contact with the shoe, the sensible sole between it and the coffin- 

 bone would be bruised, and lameness would ensue. Many of qui 

 horses, from too early and undue work, have the natural concave 

 sole flattened, and the disposition to descend, and the degree oi 

 descent, are thereby increased. The concave shoe prevents, even 

 in this case, the possibiUty of much injury, because the sole can 

 never descend in the degree in which the shoe is or may be 

 beveUed. A shoe bevelled stiU farther is necessary to protect 

 the projecting or pumiced foot. 



THE UNILATERAL, OR OliTE SIDE NAILED SHOK 



This is a material improvement in the art of shoeing, for 

 which we are indebted to Mr. Turner. 



What was the state of the foot of the horse a few years ago ? 

 An unyielding iron hoof was attached to it by four nails in each 

 quarter, and the consequence was, that in nine cases out of ten 

 the foot underwent a very considerable alteration in its form and 

 in its usefukiess. Before it had attained its full developement-^ 

 before the animal was five years old. there was, in a great many 



