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MANUSCRIPT PAPERS OF THE LATE MR. MOORCROFT.* 
On Shoeing Horses. 
The intention of shoeing is to prevent such parts of the foot 
from being broken, or otherwise injured, as would suffer were a 
horse to go barefoot. The shoe has two offices to perform, viz. 
to preserve the hoof in its natural shape, and to support a great 
part of the weight of the animal. 
It has been proved, by long experience, that the sensible parts 
within the hoof do not suffer if the crust or wall alone have a 
proper bearing on the shoe ; but that if the horny or outer sole 
bear against the shoe in any considerable degree, the fleshy 
or inner sole being pinched betwixt the iron and the horny sole 
below and the bone of the foot above, the horse is lamed. It is 
obvious, therefore, that the more of the crust that can be brought 
to bear flat on the shoe, the firmer the horse will stand ; and the 
less likelihood there be of any pressure taking place between the 
sole and the shoe, the less chance will there be of the horse be- 
coming lame. A shoe of the breadth of the crust alone would de- 
fend this part sufficiently as long as it would last ; but as it would 
wear out in a few days, or even in a few hours, when the friction 
is considerable, it is only applicable to the purpose of racing or 
hunting in very soft grounds. 
A perfectly flat shoe, broader than the crust, and equally thick 
at the inner and outer edges, would be very liable to press upon 
the sole, and produce lameness, unless a portion of the sole were to 
be removed, so as to make a hollow between it and the shoe, 
which would weaken the sole, and render the parts above liable to 
be bruised. 
To give all the support the crust can receive, and at the same 
time to make the shoe sufficiently strong to wear a reasonable 
time, the upper surface of that (shoe) I think the best, is divided into 
two parts, — these are the seat and the bevel ; the first, a perfect 
plane, rather narrower than the crust is in general; the other 
sloping jjiwards, and somewhat concave. 
* These papers have been kindly sent to the Editors by Mr. Field. 
VOL. XIX. 3 P 
