NTOEEE 01' NAILS. 



97 



The annexed engraving, also taken from Mr. Miles's work, 

 will perhaps shew the matter still more clearly. 



Figwe 13 shews the foot murfaee 

 of a left fore foot shoe, gwing 

 the position of the nail holes, 

 as reeom/mended iy Mr. Miles. 



a The Toe. 

 ec The Outside Quarter and 



Nail Holes. 

 ei The Inside Quarter, shew- 

 ing the Nail Holes. 

 ddd The Web of the shoe. 



Fiff. 13. 



Tlie common practice is to fix a fore foot shoe with eight 

 nails ; this number is more than necessary for hack and harness 

 horses. I have experimented a good deal in this matter, and 

 can with confidence state that Mr. Miles' recommendation, so 

 far as it relates to saddle and harness horses, is good. Pive 

 nails in their case are sufficient ; but shotdd the reader be scep- 

 tical upon the matter, he may readily test it for himself, without 

 either risk or expense, by using, on the first opportunity, the 

 five nails instead of eight. 



I do not recommend five naUs on the same ground merely 

 as Mr. Miles, viz., because " by this arrangement the whole of 

 the inner quarter and heel are left unfettered and free to 

 expand ;" since the expansion of the hoof is, with many, a 

 question of doubt. Numbers of veterinary surgeons deny it 

 altogether ; others, however, as strenuously affirm it. In my 

 opinion, both are right, and both are wrong. I have found the 

 feet of young horses and of those which have not been severely 

 taxed with labour, to expand ; while the feet of aged horses, 



a 



