THE- SHOE. 739 



3rd. The shoe should, as a rule, be of a uniform thickness at 

 the toes, quarters, and heels, so that the proper " bearing " of the 

 foot be not disturbed. 



4th. The shape of the foot-surface of the shoe should follow 

 the general form of the weight-bearing surfaces of the wall and 

 sole. Hence, it should be broad at the toes, and comparatively 

 narrow at the heels ; provided always, that at the latter part the 

 web is broad enough to rest on the bars, as well as on the wall of 

 the heels (Fig. 195, p. 740). As the shoe is not fixed by nails at 

 the heels, a little margin should be left, in the event of the shoe 

 shifting, or of its heels opening out. If such a contingency 



. -t"®^^ 



Fig. 194. — Section through a hoof shod with a seated shoe and 

 having the sole pared out. 



happened without allowance having been made, the horn of the 

 heels would run the risk of becoming broken down, which would, 

 of course, be most undesirable ; for the shoeing smith will generally 

 find considerable difRoulty in keeping the heels of the hoof high 

 enough. Narrow-heeled shoes, which are made to follow the shape 

 of the ground-surface of the wall at the heels, and are recom- 

 mended by some authorities, appear to me to be wrong in theory ; 

 for they do not permit weight being borne on the bars. They 

 are also defective in practice, on account of allowing no margin 

 for accidental shifting. 



5th. If it be intended to have a clip at the toe, an extra quantity 

 of iron should be provided for it at that part, upon which falls the 

 greatest amount of wear. Neglect of this precaution (as in the 



47* 



