284 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



are the quickness and convenience of application and sharpening. 

 If calks are turned at the heels only, the toe of the shoe must be 

 left thicker than the branches to avoid disturbing the normal 

 setting down of the foot as little as possible. 



The bar-shoe is used extensively in the cities. It is especially 

 adapted for heavy draft horses with brittle walls and heels that 

 are weak, low, or contracted. The bar rests on the frog and thus 

 affords frog pressure. For horses which habitually pull their 

 shoes off, either by getting them caught or by stepping on them, 

 this shoe is best. It should not be used if navicular disease 

 is present. On the other hand, it is the most suitable for many 

 other forms of disease in the feet. 



The snow-shoe is one well beveled on the inner border of the 

 ground surface to prevent snow-balling. It is especially useful 

 when the snow is damp and packs easily. 



The nail plate is made of two pieces of sheet steel riveted to a 

 C-shaped strip of tarred canvas. The latter is interposed be- 

 tween the hoof and the shoe, so that the metal comes in contact 

 with the hoof only at the heels. It is very effective to prevent 

 nails from being picked up, and has the further advantage of 

 cheapness. 



Leather pads are useful for flat-footed horses and prevent 

 bruising of the sole and evaporation of moisture. They are 

 also serviceable in preventing the horse from picking up 

 nails. 



Rubber pads would be used more, especially in the cities, 

 if they were less expensive. As a device to prevent slipping, 

 nothing is so effective. No calks are needed if rubber pads are 

 used, which does away with danger from calk wounds. They 

 are the only device that satisfactorily prevents snow-balling, 

 and allows the horse to do full work on snow-covered 

 pavements. 



Horseshoe nails have one side of the shank flat, the other con- 

 cave. They are wedge-shaped in every direction which prevents 

 splitting the hoof. The point is beveled so as to draw it in the 

 direction of the outer or flat side where it enters the horn. It 

 is, therefore, imperative that the nail be held with its flat surface 

 toward the outer edge of the shoe. Nails should always enter 

 the white line. They are driven deep enough so that their heads 

 are flush with the ground surface of the shoe. There are a 



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