492 
MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOES. 
rally unartistic manufacture of the horse-shoe : of course it 
was characteristic to begin with the awkward squad — in due 
time, we may see the trial of artistic manufactured shoes ; 
indeed, we have much to expect from the experiences of 
military forges, knowing that, unlike private individual’s 
forge enterprise, military forges are not, as the Jury remarks, 
“ fettered by questions of economy in execution.” Here, too, 
it cannot be artistic ignorance of the workmen. One ex- 
hibitor of artistic shoes belonged to the army, I believe, Mr. 
Guy, of whom honorable mention appears in the Report. 
Besides, the artists of the army (as well as artificers) are well 
known to the profession as authors, experimenters on the 
physiology of the foot, and, if not artificers themselves, prac- 
tically know what is the test of good shoeing. 
In regard to forging horse-shoes by machinery, the exhibi- 
tors have not excelled the first inventor, the late Mr. More- 
croft: they do not go beyond uniformity, which is inapplicable 
to the wants of the public in shoeing horses in every-day 
practice; at present, the machinery, is so far imperfect, perhaps 
on account of the expense, to extensive production of the 
various forms in use. Dr. Hobson’s patent machine ( vide 
‘Veterinarian 5 for February, 1852,) turns out 150 to 200 
shoes an hour ; but, from the description, 1 suppose, only of 
substance fit for punching and alteration cold. The capa- 
bilities of the machine, as stated, “ that the shape could be 
varied. 55 Why has it not produced the various forms 
unartistic and artistic in common use ? which only could 
cause extensive demand. Uniformity is of no use. The con- 
tract boxes for army use in former times were something like 
the Jew Goldner’s meat: when opened they contained rough- 
made shoes, so uniform in shape and size, as to be very unfit 
for use, till fitted out; whereas shoes for army use on foreign 
service should require as little as possible, if any, alteration. 
Troop horses not only should have their sizes registered, but 
the form and kind of shoe required for each horse. 
I thought it remiss of the representative of the late J. 
Percivall, Esq., Principal V.S. Royal Artillery, that his inven- 
tion of the Patent Horse Sandal was not exhibited ; also that 
of the cast-cemented horse-shoe, invented by the late W. 
Goodwin, Esq., V.S. to his late Majesty George the IVth, 
after the practical proofs of the utility of cast-cemented horse- 
shoes ; because the object of the exhibition was to show what 
had already been done, as well as what was new. The use 
of cast-cemented shoes is prevented by the same cause as 
machine-made shoes, uniformity , the cost of modelling and 
casting the brass patterns of the various unartistic and 
