220 
VETERINARY EXAMINATION. 
giving sufficient protection to the foot against loose or pro- 
jecting stones. The heels of it are badly formed, being 
cut off straight, instead of being sloped ; in which case, 
there would have been no danger of the hind shoe catching 
in the heels of the fore, and throwing the horse down. The 
edge or rim of the shoe is nearly straight or level from the 
upper to the lower surface ; if it had been well bevelled from 
the upper to the lower part, the horse would have been less 
liable to cut or interfere in action. The ground-surface of 
the shoe, after what I have said, it is unnecessary to comment 
upon. 
The Rind-Shoe, like the fore, is not sufficiently bevelled at 
the rim, for the reasons already pointed out. The clip 
at the toe of this shoe must, in many instances, be dispensed 
with ; for should the horse forge, or as smiths phrase it, 
“ carry the hammer and pincers,” a most disagreeable and 
unpleasant noise, (which some horses constantly do) it cannot 
be prevented, unless the toe of the hind-shoe be squared , and 
set back from half to three quarters of an inch, leaving the 
horn projecting beyond it at the toe ; and this has a tendency 
to prevent overreaches also. The inner edge of the ground- 
surface of this shoe is left sharp at the toe. Had it been 
rounded , it would have been less likely to catch in the heels 
of the fore-shoe, as before adverted to, and would tend very 
much to obviate those nasty accidents overreaches, which are 
so very likely to occur in a severe field day, especially when 
the ground is heavy. 
Hoping that some of my old friends who have given the 
subject their attention, will come forward and favour us with 
their opinions on this new shoe — if such it can be called. 
Yours, &c. 
PORTOBELLO BARRACKS, DUBLIN ; 
March 14, 1853. 
VETERINARY EXAMINATION. 
Sir, — I do not ascertain, from a careful perusal of the 
bye-laws of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, that 
any date is fixed for the examination of candidates for the 
diploma. 
May I inquire whether there is any regulation concerning 
the time for the first examination, or the interval which must 
elapse between one examination and another? 
If there is not, allow me to suggest, through the medium 
of ‘The Veterinarian/ that the Council would confer a 
