SHOEIHG THE HIITD TEBT. 99 



sole required ; then cut it accordiagiy. The artificial sole will 

 not require to be the size of the shoe : if it extends to the 

 inner border of the bearing surface of the shoe (see letters a a 

 Mg. 12, page 92), it will be sufficient. Hatiag determined the 

 size of the sole, nail the shoe to the foot ; then (to do what is 

 necessary) place the gutta percha in hot water, and there allow 

 it to remain until it becomes soft ; then lift it gently out ; and 

 while an assistant firmly holds the foot, place the softened sub- 

 stance in a proper position upon the sole, and with the fingers 

 and the aid of a thin fiat piece of lancewood (cut at one end to 

 the shape of a wedge), press the gutta percha under the dished 

 part of the shoe, and also closely to the sole and frog upon 

 every part of the foot. The operation then is complete. 



If the above operation be neatly and expeditiously per- 

 formed, the artificial sole wiU scarcely be observed when the 

 animal is in motion. Should it be desirable to remove the sole, 

 it can be again readily softened with hot water, and taken away 

 without disturbing the shoes. A gutta percha sole not only 

 protects the foot to which it may be applied, but (by prevent- 

 ing evaporation from the ground surface of the organ — which 

 it does), it precludes the horn from becoming too hard and 

 brittle. 



Shoeing the hind Feet. — From the fore feet, we pro- 

 ceed to the consideration of those matters which pertain to the 

 shoeing of the hind feet. These may be comprised under the 

 three following heads : — 



I. — Eaising the heels of the shoes. 



II. — The prevention of cutting. 



III. — The prevention of forging or clicking, or what in 

 Yorkshire is designated " hammering and pincering." 



