428 
ON THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE 
the outside or wearing point, (as the foot is inclined) seven 
twenty-fourths of the diameter of the upper part of the hoof, 
on which, from a point two-twelfths posterior to the first point, 
we draw the segment of a circle : this shews us the bearing 
opposite and not opposite to sensible parts. In proportion as 
we pare away the base of the hoof, we diminish the former, and 
increase the latter; which is the case in the ordinary methods 
of shoeing, when the state of the hoof requires the heels of the 
shoe to be thicker than half the substance of the toe. It next 
shew us, that it is impossible that any action of the hoof can 
take place if a plane is opposed to another plane; and to admit 
of it, the plane of the crust at the heels and quarters must have 
space between it and the plane of the shoe, or the plane of the 
shoe will descend opposite these parts. The former is practised 
in the bar-shoe and some other modifications for particular cases. 
It is the practicability of making the latter, the plane of the shoe, 
descend at the heels and quarters for ordinary use, at ordinary 
prices, that we shall now examine. We have been in the habit 
of using a spring shoe for many years ; have trained, hunted, 
and driven horses under these circumstances. Any amateur 
wishing to have one, has only to mention it to Mr. Long, the 
veterinary instrument maker (it cannot be seen at his house), 
and the smith who has made these shoes for us shall supply 
one. But we believe that, unless its application is attended to, 
it will fail like other modifications. 
A spring shoe (see the annexed cut) with three removeable 
pieces, costs, in the first instance, from four to five shillings ; 
but, of course, a spring shoe will outlast many sub-shoes ; and 
we have found it more economical than the ordinary shoes, as 
the sub-shoes can be made of any substance, and renewed, 
instead of destroying the hoof by removing the spring shoe. 
The accompanying spring shoe (the ground surface of which 
is here given) is steel, only as far as it is flexible. It is the 
asiatic shoe, the two part&of the shoe, instead of being fastened 
