BRITTLE FEET. 



2o;-i 



•sliijes sliciulil be titled on hot: for Ijy doiui;' so, fliey i-emaui tinner 

 on, uwiiio- to tlie iiiore exuut juxlapositioii ul the hoi'u and ii'oii. 

 ("lips should be used to save the nails fioni being shaken ; and, for 

 tlie same reason, calkins should be discarded. Rattier fine nails 

 should be employed ; for course ones are apt to clii)i away the crust. 

 The nail holes should be punched well away fioui the outer edge 

 nf the shoe, so tliat tlje nails may take a good Injld without having 

 to be driven higii up, wliich would lie apt to start a chii) off the 



f"ig. 65. — .Securiag the clinches of naiU. 



crust. Keep the feet drj-. and stimulate the coronet as advised 

 for ■■ seedy-toe." 



An excellent metliod of preventing the clinches of the nails from 

 chipping away the horn immediately below them, is to use an iron 

 washer placed on the end of the nail after it has been " driven," 

 and liefore the clinch lias been turned down. Tliis washer (Fig. 

 65j is cut out of thin sheet iron ; is circular in shape : is about 

 one-tliird of an inch in diameter : and lias a slit out through its 

 centre to fit the end of the nail. When the nail has lieen driven, 

 the washer is fitted on the point, and is liglitl}' hammered down by 

 means of the buffer, or chisel, until it rests firmly against the hoof. 

 The clinch of the nail is then turned down and is out off just below 

 the lower edi^e of the washer. In this manner, the horn is not 



