698 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
less than six nails in the fore, and seven in the hind shoe ; 
nor is the shoe to be attached with fewer than three nails on 
either side.” 
Our answer to this is : — 
“ From the close fitting of this (the concave ) shoe to the 
foot ,five nails will hold it as fast on as six or seven will hold 
a shoe of an opposite description : whereby not merely are 
nails saved (which is trifling), but there is less imprisonment 
of the foot.” 
Next comes Instruction No. 6, the one directing “the pre- 
paring of the foot for the shoe,” it runs thus : 
“ 6. In preparing the foot for the shoe, as little (horn) as 
possible should be pared out, and the operation should he con- 
fined to the removal of the exfoliating parts only” 
If the operation of paring or preparing the hoof for the 
shoe is to be limited “ to the removal of the exfoliating parts 
alone,” then are we “ instructed ” to do that which our 
practice for years has taught us to do. 
In answer to objections, we have observed : 
“ One objection urged against the concave shoe is that it 
is apt to lame the horse (that wears it). And, were it put 
upon a foot pared out or i prepared ’ in the manner in which 
hoofs in general are for ordinary shoes, there can be no doubt 
whatever but that lameness would be an occasional conse- 
quence : since such paring or c preparation 5 as the foot 
thereby obtains, renders the sole so ‘ tender ’ or sensitive to 
pressure, bruises, &c., that it really cannot bear the contact 
of the shoe ; but, leave the sole unpared — remove no horn 
from it save what is in the act of exfoliation , and would, were 
it not removed, speedily fall off of itself, and then the concave 
shoe will be borne with impunity. 
“ The only part of the sole which admits of being taken 
away by the farrier is the dead horn , that which nature herself 
casts off, simply because it has served its purpose ; what 
remains (at least what ought to remain) being live (elastic) 
sole, which by the covering of dead sole was preserved elastic 
to that degree that it answers every purpose of the action of 
