OF SHOEING HOUSES. 
429 
together by nails, the holes of which are punched at the outer 
edge of the web, are screwed together by means of holes in the 
middle of it, and by which means a coarse fuller is formed lor 
the nail-holes, the places of which are marked by black spots. 
We think these would be rarely required posteriorly to the 
beginning of the spring. There is a space between the spring 
and sub-shoe, seen in the side-view of the shoe, and which, when 
the shoe is cut off’ at the heels, the outer heel being shorter than 
the inner, leaves a greater space, and a longer spring for the 
latter. The sub-shoe is modified, in this instance, to shew that 
either a parallel plane thick or thin-heeled shoe can be applied, 
according to the state of the hoof. We need only say, that any 
other modification of foot or ground surface can be followed, 
besides other modes of nailing, clips, and many other minor 
points, not necessary to enter into, as long as these do not inter- 
fere with the principle of the spring. The power of the spring can 
also be modified ; but as a general rule for this method of shoe- 
ing, we have recourse, as we said before, to that science which 
will assist us. Give us the diameter of any horse’s hoof, at the 
upper part, and we will undertake to produce a spring shoe, of 
the requisite power, provided the workman is repaid for his 
trouble ; but we are not blacksmiths, or in the trade, and we 
would as soon think of flying as to order such to be made for sale. 
We are independent of its success or failure, excepting the pleasure 
the former w T ould afford us, — the latter will give us no pain. 
We have now shewn, that the practical application of the 
principles of the spring, as taught at our veterinary school, w ? ould 
be the reverse of the ordinary methods of shoeing ; we preserve 
all the hoof we can, and provide for the action of it (nor late- 
rally upon the principle of expansion J, but by means of a spring 
shoe. We do not mean to say that the shoe has the action of 
the hoof. We cannot give the downward action of the sole to 
the web of the shoe, nor the action downwards and outwards of 
the bars and heels, or the action of the sole against the hoof, 
producing the cone form ; but enough action to prevent, in some 
degree, the percussion which happens in the ordinary methods of 
shoeing, where we have resistance to the spring of the hoof by 
the shoe, and percussion, notwithstanding the means taken to 
prevent it by paring. 
[To be continued.] 
££f“ If there are any inaccuracies in this exposition of the spring shoe, 
we shall much regret it; but, really, from the rapid manner in which our 
correspondent seems to write, and the running of letters and of words so 
unintelligibly together, we and the printer have had a world of work to 
comprehend his meaning at all times. We begrudge not the labour, 
although some of it> might have been spared. We only hope that we have 
been enabled to do him justice. 
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