REVIEW. 255 
systems of “ Proportions of Horse-shoes,” by which, in the 
words of Bourgelat, is meant to be determined — 
“The relative proportions in the construction of the 
several parts of the shoe ; since upon the exact execution 
of the work absolutely depends the position the shoe takes 
upon the ground, the position in which it sets upon the foot, 
as well as that of the aplomb , the direction given to the 
limbs of the animal, and, in fact, every other advantage 
derivable from shoeing.”* 
“We derive, as a primitive principle from this, that it is 
proper to make the shoe for the hoof, and not to adjust, by 
paring away, the hoof for the shoe.” 
“ Lafosse rejected these 4 proportions,’ and advocated the 
fer a, croissant , which is either our tip or our three-quarter 
shoe, for the reception of the heels of which, thinned off, 
they cut a sort of notch in the crust ; the principal end of 
this shoe being freedom for the elasticity of the foot.” 
In Chapter XI we meet with the important subject of 
l*ajusture du fer , the adjustment of the shoe (to the foot), 
consisting in rendering it suitable or comfortable ( convenable ) 
to the horse. M. Renault has observed that, in a state of 
nature, the toe of the foot is slightly incurvated or turned 
up ; without doubt, Rey adds, that the animal may be less 
liable to hit his toe. For our own part, — indeed we might 
say on the part of our nation, — we are at issue with the 
French on this point. In the first place, we deny that the 
turned-up toe is natural either to the hoof or to the coffin- 
bone ; and, in the second, we do not believe that it always 
facilitates action. Indeed, so far from it, there is one situation 
in which this decurtation of toe plainly robs the foot of the 
point of a lever most serviceable to the horse ; since everybody 
has observed the digging of the toe of the fore-foot into the 
ground which takes place at the time a horse is dragging a 
heavy load up hill. Still, there are arguments — independent 
of Vajusture — which seem to tell in favour of this sloping toe. 
The old shoe, from the wear it has had, slopes off in this 
way. So do our own shoes, albeit our feet do not slope 
upward, but rather downward. It is well known that men, 
accustomed to go barefoot, can run faster without than with 
* Bourgelat; Essai sur la Ferrure, 1843, p. 55. 
