OF USING HOUSES WITHOUT SHOES. 689 
a medium which is generally the nearest akin to truth, especially 
if he have the good fortune to lean on dame Nature’s arm. 
To no section of our professional studies will the remark apply 
more forcibly than to those which bear upon the foot of the horse. 
Much has been written, and well written, on this all-important 
question; “last, not least,” by Mr. Turner, in his valuable papers. 
He has again proved how well he deserves of his brethren. 
I may state that, about forty-five years ago, I became a vehement 
advocate for frog pressure, anxious as I was to counteract the evils 
which contracted feet so commonly brought under my eye ; feel- 
ing the truth of the old adage, “ no foot, no horse.” 
I had the honour of Mr. Moorcroft’s acquaintance, and was early 
familiarized with his theory. I well remember his favourite 
saying, “ I should as soon think of splitting an oak with a piece 
of dough, as to expand a horse’s foot by pressure on the frog.” 
Nevertheless, some years intervened before I could relinquish my 
favourite opinions in support of the iron frog pressure; whereas I 
think I can now adduce well tested experiments that will more 
than justify the apprehension that Nature never intended the frog 
to sustain so much pressure as is generally supposed, and certainly 
not on such unyielding surfaces as we owe to Mr. M‘Adam. 
A comparative view of the effects in the working of the animal 
with and without shoes will be of considerable use in forming a 
correct opinion on the subjest. The advocate of the shoe may 
claim for his favourite the character of a protector ; but I have very 
little doubt that the would-be preserver is more of an interloper, 
preventing by its intervention the forming of that bulwark which 
Nature would have raised for herself. 
I shall cite the cases in which I have tested the correctness of 
the opinion I have for some time entertained, and which I venture 
to lay before your readers. 
The first is that of a three years’ colt, by Theodore. This horse 
had the firmest foot, the thickest and strongest wall to his foot, I 
ever saw. As our journeys in this island are necessarily short, 
it occurred to me I would try how long I could ride him without 
shoes : this I did with little intermission for three years, picturing 
to myself the firm, full, and enduring frog I should with perse- 
verance secure. I am bound to admit, however, I was disap- 
pointed, for the frog continued in its soft state, and, after having 
been permitted to be for some time in contact with the ground, it 
exhibited a tendency to separate from the point, and would, after 
a short interval, with a pull applied in that direction, easily come 
away. It so continued as long as he went without shoes. At one 
period within the three years I have specified, in consequence of 
his work being much harder than usual, I had a pair of shoes put 
