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Thefe were made of fedges twitted together like a mat, 

 or elfe of leather, and were fometimes ftrengthened with 

 plates of iron, and adorned by the rich and oRentatious 

 with filver and gold, as in the inftances of Nero and 

 Poppia. 



It does not appear in what era, or in what conntry, the 

 modern art of flioeiiig tooii its rife. The earlied proof 

 which the above mentioned writer has met with is the fnoe 

 faid to have belonged to the liorfe of Childeric, who lived in 

 the year 48 1, and is prcferved in Moutfaucon's Antiquities 

 of France. It perfeftly refi-mbles the fhoe now in ufe. 

 Berenger's Horfemanfhip, vol. i. p. 234. 



Shoes of the Horfe and other Animals, the crooked pieces 

 of iron attached to the hoof of the horfe or other beafts, 

 by means of nails. There are various forms and fliapes of 

 flioes in common ufe, and others whicli are adapted and ac- 

 commodated to the particular purpofes and circumilances 

 of the hoofs. Different forts of animals, likewile, require 

 different forms in their fhoes. In fpeakiiig of the (hoe 

 ■vi\\\cW?, conca've an\x.f, loiuer furfacc, it has been remarked 

 by fome, that there are certain proportions to be obierved 

 in its different parts. Its breadth ihould be confidcrably 

 lefs than the breadth of the common fhoe ; it is totally un- 

 neceffary to cover any part of the fole, efpecially when care 

 is taken to preferve its natur.il hardnefs. The breadth of 

 the Ihoe at the heels fhould be one-lialf of its breadth at 

 the toe. Its thicknefs fhould decreafe gradually from the 

 t'c, fo as to be reduced one-half at the extremity of the 

 heels. As to tiie diftribution of the (lamp-holes, every 

 perfon acquainted with the fubjeil knows, that in fhoes for 

 the fore-feet, tliey fliould be at the toe and quarters, be- 

 caufe the wall, or cruft, of the fore-feet is (Ironger at the 

 toe than at the heels. The reverfe of this is to be obferved 

 in the hind (hoes, becaufe the heels and quarters of the hind- 

 feet are commonly ftronger than the toe. It is impodible 

 to lay down any general rule for difpofing of thefe holes in 

 bad feet ; it muil be the bulinefj of the (arrier to diltribute 

 them in fuch a manner, as to be able to fix the nails in thofe 

 parts of the cruft where the horn is found and firm. Far- 

 riers generally multiply thefe flamp-holes too much, which 

 brings the nails too clofe together, occafions the horn to 

 break in fplinters, and at length deflroys the crult. 



The following number is recommended for good feet ; 

 ni/2. for race-horfes fix, that is three on each fide ; for 

 faddle-horfes fcven, four on the outfide and tlirce within, 

 the quarter on this fide being weaker than on the other ; the 

 fame number for coach-horfes of the middling fize ; for 

 large coach-horfes four on each fide ; and for cart-horfes, five 

 on the out a;id four on the infide. It is alfo of principal 

 importance to determine the weight of thejljoe, for it is mat- 

 ter of aflonifhmeiit, to fee fome horfes with fhoes weighing 

 each five pounds, making together a burden of twenty 

 pounds of iron attached to their four feet. It is obvious 

 to common fenfe, that fuch an additional weight, fixed to 

 the extremity of the leg, mud be productive of fome incon- 

 venience or other; and, in fact, the mufcles are thereby 

 compelled to greater exertion ; the ligaments are (Icetched, 

 and the articulations continually fatigued : and, befides all 

 thefe evil confeqiiences, the fhoe by its weight forces out 

 the nails, and fo entirely fpoils the texture of the wall or 

 cruft, that it becomes often extremely diiTicult to fix the 

 fhoe to the hoof. Why then, it is a(ked, do not prac- 

 titioners of the prefent day, who are daily witneffes of tliefe 

 fafts, and indeed are the principal authors of them, apply 

 thcmfeives to the corredtion of their own errors ? The 

 anfwer, it is feared, is obvious ; becaufe he who is unedu- 

 cated and deftitute of found principles in his art, cannot 



9 



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turn to real profit the experience he has acquired, nor 

 abandon the path of prejudice and cuftom, in which he lias 

 fo long journied, but fatisfies himfelf with continuing to imi- 

 tate and repeat whatever he has feen done by others. 



The weights which are propofed, for (lioes of different 

 kinds, are nearly as follow : 



For the flrongeft fort of cart-horfes - - 2 12 



For the fmaller horfes of this kind - - - 112 



For the largeft coach-horfes - - . . i 12 



For the fmaller ditto --..](,, „ j . 



For faddle-horfes of any height . . I 2 to 10 



For race-horfes - - . . . OAtoc 



And by reducing the fuperfluous breadths of thefe (hoe?, 

 tlieir thicknefs may, it is fiippoled, be inereafed without 

 making any addition to their weight. See Shoeing. 



Shoes of Cattle, the fmall platei; of iron that are faftcned 

 upon the feet of oxen, or other cattle employed in field or 

 road labour. Shoes of this fort coiifill, according to fome, 

 of a flat piece of iron, witli five or fix ftarap-ho'les on the 

 outward edge, to receive the nails : at the toe is a projec- 

 tion of fome inches, which palTiiig in the cleft of the foot, 

 is bent over tlie hoof fo as to keep the fhoe in its proper 

 place. This projection is not, however, employed in the 

 general practice of making thefe fiioes, nor can it in com- 

 mon be of any utility. See Shoeing of Oxen. 



Shoe of Gold, in Commerce, an ingot ufed as money in 

 China. Gold is here confidered as merchandize ; it is fold 

 in regular ingots of a determined weight, which the Englifh 

 callyic« of gold; the largeft of thefe weigh 10 tales, and 

 the gold is reckoned 94 touch (that is 94 parts fine in 100), 

 though it is really only 92 or 93. Formerly, 10 tales of 

 filver were given for one tale of gold of the fame degree of 

 fineuefs; but of late, from 100 to no tales of (ilver of 

 94 touch have been given for 10 tales of gold of 92 or 

 93 touch; and Ibmetimes from 110 to 120 tales, or even 

 more, of Spanidi dollars, reckoned at 92 touch, have beeu 

 paid for 10 tales of gold. It muft be obferved, that when 

 gold is exchanged for filver, its price is always valued by 

 the lo-tale weight ; and it is fold either above or below 

 touch, as follows : if the gold be 96 touch, and fold at 5 

 under touch, fubtraft 5 from 96, and 91 remains; then 91 

 tales of filver arc paid for 10 of gold: if gold be fold at 

 10 above touch, the finenefs being ftill 96, add 10 to 96; 

 and 106 tales of filver are paid for 10 tales of gold. 



We (hall here oblervc that there is but one kind of money 

 made in China, called cajh, which is not coined but call, and 

 which is only ufed for (mall payments : it is compofed of fix 

 parts of copper and four parts of lead ; it is round, marked 

 on one fide, and rather raifcd at the edges, with a fquare 

 hole in the middle. Thefe pieces are commonly carried, 

 like beads, on a ftring or wire. A tale of fine filver fhould 

 be worth 1000 cafh ; but on account of their convenience 

 for common ufe, their price is fometimes fo much raifed 

 that only 750 cafli are given for the tale. See Tale. 



Shoe, Horfe, in Fortification, Mining, &c. Sec Horse- 

 shoe. 



Shoe, Horfe, Head. See House-shoe Head. 

 Shoe uf the Anchor, in Sea Language, a fniall block of 

 wood, convex on I he back, and having .1 (mall hole fuf- 

 ficient to contain the point of the anchor-fluke on the fore 

 fide. It is ufed to prevent the aiiclior from tearing or 

 wounding the planks on the fliip's bow, when afcending or 

 defcending ; for which purpofe the Ihoe Aides up and dowD 

 along the bow, between the fluke of the anchor and the 

 plaiik'i, as being prefled clofe to the latter by the weight of 

 the former. Falconer, 



Sjioe, 



