OF SHOEING HOUSES. 
427 
toe may touch it, because it is not opposite sensible parts. That 
a principle does not admit of deviation yet gives him a 
glaring one, who well enough knows by his practice, “ that the 
shoe must not be opposite sensible parts yet he is bound by 
custom, notwithstanding what his master says about the prin- 
ciples, to place a parallel plane shoe to the crust which is at 
the quarters and heels opposite sensible parts. It is impossible 
for the mechanic to reconcile these inconsistencies, and this 
is partly the reason why the shoeing of horses makes little ad- 
vancement as an art. We speak of it here independent of work- 
manship, as certain individuals excel in this as in other handi- 
crafts — the price is not the sole reason. 
In the ordinary methods of shoeing the spring is given by 
weakening the sole, bars, and crust. This is something like 
the inconsistency of rendering carriages easy by very flexible 
springs, then binding up parts of the springs to render the 
whole less flexible, from fear of breaking the springs over bad 
roads, to the injury of the remainder of the carriage by per- 
cussion. 
Percussion contributes in the horses’ feet, under the ordinary 
methods of shoeing, to the injury of the feet, legs, and ultimately 
the bodies, from pain, till the poor animals are prematurely 
worked up, to the great loss of the public : yet these methods of 
shoeing are followed, from force of custom, for rent, taxes, rates, 
men’s wages, &c. must be paid. Is it possible to supply any 
better mode at the same prices ? 
We are quite tired of seeing signs outside professing to shoe 
horses on “ most approved principles “ improved principles ,” 
u principle of expansion ,” while the practices within are the or- 
dinary methods. We believe a deception is not intended, but 
while the principle taught in our veterinary school, viz. that of 
the spring, or that of expansion, whatever is meant by it, is not 
the ordinary practice of the forge, what is the utility of humbug- 
ging us in this way ? Why not stick up practice instead of u prin- 
ciple ?” 
We shall first endeavour to shew the practicability of the ordi- 
nary use of shoes on the principle of the spring. We must 
examine the hoof with reference to that science by which other 
machinery is constructed and repaired; and, first, as regards 
pressure opposite sensible parts, in order to settle that matter as 
we have shewn it up. If we pare a hoof perpendicularly outside, 
it at once shews us the inconsistencies we have pointed out. To 
determine this on the living horse, we lay a plane across the hoof, 
opposite the point of the frog, and from quarter to quarter, from 
which point we measure towards the toe, a little inclined to 
