THE ANTI-CONCUSSION HORSESHOE. 
501 
useful in cases of tetanus, but there are other disorders in which 
it may be serviceable. When disease renders it dangerous to 
raise the head of the animal — when injuries to the mouth cause 
the passage of food by the ordinary course to be objectionable — 
and when, from various causes, the power of deglutition is lost, 
this method of supporting life may be advantageously resorted to. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
Aug. 14, 1847. 
*** We have made the experiment, and found it succeeded 
admirably. — E d. Yet. 
THE ANTI-CONCUSSION HORSESHOE, 
Invented by Mr. CLEMENTS. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian 
Sir, — The pattern shoe which I send you for trial I have termed 
an Anti-concussion. In placing it before the public I do not intro- 
duce it as one that is to be used for ordinary purposes, but as a 
shoe applicable only in certain cases. Many are the shoes that 
have been invented with the same object, yet, when tested by prac- 
tice, have been found totally inapplicable ; for instance, I might 
mention Mr. Coleman’s spring-heeled shoe. 
The application of Indian rubber to shoeing has long engaged 
the attention of veterinary surgeons, but that its adaptation has 
hitherto failed we need not be surprised, when we consider the 
mode in which it has been applied. 
The common method has been to place it between the hoof and 
the shoe after the manner of leather, thus exposing it to the action 
of two hard substances ; the one (the shoe) possessing a flat sur- 
face, the other (the hoof) a sharp one. Hence, every time the 
horse puts his foot to the ground the Indian-rubber is in a position 
similar to what it would be were it between the nippers of a pair 
of pincers, than which there is no instrument would cut it more 
effectually. 
There is another thing which militates against the ordinary mode 
of applying it, which as, that, every time the Indian-rubber is com- 
pressed, the nails of necessity work up and down in the hoof or 
the shoe; the consequence being, that either the clenches are raised 
or the heads of the nails are broken off. You will perceive that, 
in the shoe I have taken the liberty of sending you, these evils 
are entirely obviated by the Indian-rubber being placed between 
plates of iron, and rendered altogether independent of the nails. 
