ARMY FARRIERS AND SHOEING SMITHS. 823 
to adopt a new line, especially of the character of onr subject; 
they look in other directions for promotion. Some may be 
glad to seize the chance of becoming an acting shoeing 
smith, to escape the jading routine of parade; others attend 
the duties of both, one of which must be neglected, though 
it is not likely to be the parade. From this class much must 
not be expected. He is not the proper age to begin to learn 
an art of which he is altogether or partially ignorant ; his 
frame, though muscular enough, may be too set and fixed to 
yield readily to sudden change, and the powers of his mind 
will not be sufficiently ductile ever to assume a promising 
form. In more respects than one the acting shoeing smith's 
position is nominal. 
If he completes the shoeing establishment and is shown 
in the monthly return of qualifications, well and good — how 
satisfactory ! though his abilities have never, perhaps, been 
commented on by the veterinary surgeon. That the abilities 
or qualifications of these men are seldom reported on monthly 
by us is true ; that they should be reported on monthly is also 
true. When a vacancy occurs in the forge as a result of 
promotion, sickness (a frequent cause of short-handedness in 
India), or return to duty, one who possesses the above or 
corresponding qualifications is selected to enter a novel line 
of occupation or to re-enter a half- forgotten one, that is, to 
discharge the duties of the forge, but not to become con- 
versant with those of a veterinary medical nature. 
If not able at once, he will, by and by, learn to strike, 
remove an old shoe, file up a new one and point a nail, 
simply operations at which he will remain for a long time, 
evincing no particular desire to progress. Unless carefully 
watched he will not be at all conservative in his treatment of 
horse's feet — soles and frogs will be tastefully mutilated. 
None but veterinary surgeons know how difficult it is to 
prevent a practice so reprehensible, even amongst men of 
long experience, because countenance is given to what ought 
to be, by this time, the obsolete method of paring and rasp- 
ing, by a majority that would not care to] have its opinions 
questioned on matters that refer to the management of the 
feet of its valuable chargers and other horses. 
Though a General Order enforces that the soles and frogs 
of troop horses' feet are to remain untouched, excepting 
special cases for which the veterinary surgeon is alone re- 
sponsible, though the owners of high-priced horses cannot 
fail to see the benefit derived from the system — that is, if 
they pay any attention to their troopers' feet, and understand 
them — still they allow their private horses' hoofs to be 
