210 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF SHOEING HORSES. 
shoe also, as it was found the sole could bear on the shoe with- 
out injury. This upset the inferred principles ; but an endeavour 
was made to reconcile this inconsistency, by explaining that the 
reason was, that the sole at the toe was not opposed to sensible 
parts; that the principles were the same, notwithstanding the 
exception ; and practice shewing that no bearing could be allowed 
of the sole on the shoe opposite the quarters and heels (the corn 
place, as it is called). Now it so happens, that the crust at the 
heels is as much opposite sensible parts as the sole at those parts, 
and, for the same reason, should not bear on the shoe : it cuts 
both ways. The frog, too, is opposite sensible parts, and yet it 
was especially recommended for pressure by its bearing on the 
bar-shoe, where the aforementioned sensible parts, opposite sole 
and heels, could have no bearing and pressure. 
I was strangely puzzled to understand such logic as was 
attempted by these inferences from practice, and resolved, on the 
first opportunity, to institute direct inquiry into the matter. 
What was the result ? — that the sole, frog, bars, crust, whether or 
not opposed to sensible parts, were bearing on the ground without 
injury being produced in horses without shoes, just in proportion 
to the substance , the unrestrained action of the hoof preventing 
all percussion ; and that the same held good where horses were 
shod in those countries where great substance of hoof is left, and 
little substance of shoe is required, percussion and injury to 
sensible parts not happening there also. It is quite a mistaken 
notion to suppose that Englishmen do not go the pace in any 
other country but England ; yet, although exposed to all that 
has been considered as the predisposing causes in greater degree, 
and the proximate cause in the rate and continuance of pro- 
gression being equally as much, lameness does not often happen. 
In England, in the metropolis, and large towns, where higher 
prices are paid for shoeing, where the workmen are most skilful, 
where horses are what is called neater shod, where most sub- 
stance of hoof is removed, agreeable to the supposed principles 
of shoeing, there are more lame horses than in the country, 
where the workmanship is rougher. I would rather have our 
horse shod in the ordinary way by the latter than the former, to 
go over the stones of the metropolis, where percussion is most 
likely to happen. 
“ The expansion principle” is a strange misnomer : it seems to 
imply that the hoof expanded; that hard and soft parts within 
it expanded also, which the anatomy and physiology of the foot 
deny. The superincumbent weight of the animal, not supported 
by the springs within the hoof, must ultimately fall perpendicu- 
larly on the last spring, that formed by the bases of the hoof on 
