136 
The Principles of Horse-Slioeiiig. 
centuries shoeing has not been conducted on rational principles. 
The shoes have been something more — or shall we say less — 
than a mere protection to the hoof. They have varied in shape 
and in weight, but these variations have always been to the 
injury of the horse, and the consequent disadvantage of horse- 
proprietors. Some of the variations have been productive of 
abominable cruelty, and have caused a terrible sacrifice of horse- 
life and horse-utility. They appear to have reached their 
maximum when false notions as to the functions of the horse's 
foot were promulgated by men who only studied the hoof, and 
forgot that this was merely the covering to the organ, not the 
organ itself: that it was only to the foot as the cranium is to 
the brain, or as the leather shoe is to the human foot — in fact, 
that it was not much more than a " covering or protection." 
The theory was that the hoof expanded and contracted at the 
sides, while the sole descended and ascended, every time the 
foot was placed on the ground and raised again. To this theory 
the treatment of the hoof was subordinated. To facilitate 
elasticity the sole was ruthlessly mutilated, until it was so thin 
that it yielded to the pressure of the thumb, and the blood often 
oozed through the horn. Shoes much too small were applied, and 
the horn to which they were nailed was rasped away, so as to make 
the foot fit the shoe. Everything was only too frequently done 
which should not have been done : Nature's arrangements were 
subverted to suit very erroneous notions, and, as a consequence, 
inconvenience, pain, lameness, and premature wearing-out of 
horses were witnessed. Hence shoeing has oftentimes been desig- 
nated an evil and a curse to the equine species ; and the truth of 
this no one can deny when the operation is performed by ignorant 
men. But when it is carried »)ut with intelligence and a due 
regard to what is necessary, it is a great boon to mankind, and 
does not injure horses in the slightest degree. Much has been 
written against the iron fetter, as the shoe has been designated, 
and the blame for every kind of lameness has been attributed to 
it ; while some authorities have ascribed the great expenditure 
of comparatively young horses in our large cities to shoeing. A 
properly applied shoe is not a fetter to the functions of the foot, 
as the part to which it is attached has scarcely any movement, 
and the hoof itself might more fitly receive this appellation ; and 
with regard to all horses being prematurely worn out through 
shoeing, the statement must be very much qualified. Without 
shoes horses might last longer, as owing to their hoofs wearing 
too quickly, they could not work continuously, and a long time 
would be required to repair the damage by new growth ; while 
with shoes they are made to toil incessantly, and perform duties 
which could never be attempted with unshod hoofs. With 
