REMARKS ON MR. MOGFORD’S LETTER. 
199 
spondents, I should like to go into still more minute details, but 
without the opportunity of demonstration I find it almost im- 
possible. 
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, 
Your obedient servant and sincere well-wisher. 
Guernsey, 
Jan. 14th, 1846. 
*** We thank Mr. Mogford for this letter of explanation and 
detail — so far as he has, under the circumstances mentioned, been 
enabled to give it — and shall avail ourselves of the opportu- 
nity now afforded us of doing that which but for press of matter we 
should have done before, viz. making some observations on the 
important subject brought under notice by Mr. M.’s paper, con- 
tained in our number for December last. If there is any one argu- 
ment more sweeping and convincing in its application than another 
to prove that horses’ feet derive many or most of their diseases from 
shoeing, it is that based upon the notorious fact of the health they 
(the feet) enjoy — barring hurt arising from wearing or breaking 
away of their natural defences — so long as they are left unshod. 
Every veterinarian, every farrier and blacksmith, nay, every man 
conversant with horses, admits the healthfulness of the shoeless 
hoof, although in the same breath he never fails to tell you, that, 
beneficial or exempt from evil as the practice is, it is one not to be 
imitated by art upon such roads and paved ways as horses in our 
and most other civilized countries have to tread. Mr. Mogford’s 
observations, founded as they are on the results of two years’ ex- 
perience, have drawn our attention to the subject, and, on reflection, 
suggested to our mind the practicability of horses, with hoofs of a 
certain character, and well hardened and seasoned for the purpose, 
working upon wood-paved streets without shoes. Certain it is 
that the natural hoof would be much less likely to slip about 
than any metallic defence, and that, consequently, unshod horses 
would be found going more fearlessly and freely thhn shod ones. 
Nor do we entertain any doubt that the hoof would be equal to 
all the wear and tear of wood pavement. The trial would com- 
mence the moment the horse stepped off the wood upon stone 
pavement or upon rough stony road, which, as the metropolitan 
streets and roadways stand at present, would of course continually 
be the case. We may, as it would seem, however, look forward 
to a much larger surface of roadway being covered by wood than 
exists at present; and then, more especially, will be the time 
to try horses at work without shoes*. We are here saying nothing 
* Since this was written, we find the Poultry has exchanged its wood for 
granite pavement ; we are also informed by the papers that Oxford- street 
and Newgate-street are to undergo the same changes. 
