EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
69 7 
The first four of the “ instructions ” contained in the order 
of the 4th February, before referred to, respect the horse-shoe 
alone ; the fifth relates to the nails by which the shoe is 
fastened on ; while the sixth instruction directs in v 7 hat 
manner the foot is to be “ prepared for the shoe.” The ^'in- 
structions 55 alluded to are these : 
“ 1. The shoe is to be beveled off, so as to leave space 
and prevent pressure to the sole. 
“2. It (the shoe) is not to be grooved or fullered, but 
simply punched, and the nails (to be) counter-sunk. 
“ 3. Calking is to be applied to the hind shoe only, and is 
to be confined to the outside heel. The inside heel is to be 
thickened in proportion, 
et 4. The weight of the shoe is to be from twelve to four- 
teen ounces, according to the size of the horse.” 
In regard to the shoe, our language, already referred to, 
was as follows : 
“ The best horseshoe that can be used is the one which 
interferes the least with the action of the foot, while it affords 
the animal, as nearly as possible, the same hind of tread the hoof 
itself gives him . The tread or ground-surface of the foot is 
not flat, but concave , and for this reason a concave shoe, to 
imitate it, is (in our opinion, ‘ the best shoe, 5 being) the shoe 
we have for several years successfully and advantageously made 
use of. With this shoe the foot grasps or clutches the ground, 
making good its tread by indentations into that ground, and 
thus has a hold on it which prevents the danger of slipping. 
This is not the case with the ordinary (or ‘instruction 5 ) shoe. 
Again, the arch of the sole, which partly supports the animal’s 
weight, receives itself support from the arch of the (concave) 
shoe, since this everywhere lies upon or against it, and thus 
constitutes a very important following-up of nature ; and one 
which is attended with this advantage (among others), that, 
since there is no, or next to no, interval between the sole and 
shoe, there is no interspace for such a force as suction to 
operate in dragging the shoe off from the foot.” 
In respect to the number of nails requisite to hold the shoe 
on, the instruction is — 
“5. As a general principle, horses are to be shod with not 
xxvi. 90 
