292 SHOEING AND THE FOOT. 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
SHOEING AND THE FOOT, 
Importance of the subject justifies an additional chapter—The blacksmith too 
often blamed for lameness—Early treatment necessary to produce good feet 
—The method shown—Extremes to be avoided—Hints to those who have 
not the natural appliances—My own experience of smith’s work—The foot, 
and method of preparation to receive the shoe described—The shoe itself ; 
and method of fixing it and number of nails ; and of takiug it off—Errors ia 
shoeing and resulting injuries shown—Racing plates, their use and disuse— 
Other shoes; Mr. Westley-Richard’s invention—Variety of opinions on 
shoes and the method of fixing them—One safe general rule, 
ALTHOUGH the importance both of frequent examination of 
the feet and of due regard for their size and shape, has been 
impressed upon the reader in the portions which treat respec- 
tively of the stable and sickness, and of purchasing, it has 
seemed well in the present edition of the work to add a special 
chapter upon this subject, and upon shoeing, which is insepar- 
able from it and of not less interest. As the treatment of 
disease should primarily be left to the specialist, so shoeing 
also is the recognised duty of the craftsman. Yet the black- 
smith as well as the veterinary surgeon may learn something 
from the knowledge acquired by the trainer in the exercise of 
his profession. 
The result of my own experience has been the conviction 
that the blacksmith is far too frequently blamed for lame- 
ness. Shoeing is so simple a process that few smiths with 
ordinary ability and common prudence make many mistakes. 
