EXPERIMENTS ON THE FOOT OF THE HORSE. 
63 
Assuming that these actions are demonstrably established, he 
proceeds to provide for them by recommending a style of shoeing 
with “ the heels much sprung.’' 
Now, upon an analysis of the foregoing conclusions, there are 
many of them so directly opposed to our acknowledged im- 
provements in shoeing, that it becomes a matter of much import- 
ance to put them to closer test; and prove, if possible, either that 
those deductions are incorrect, or that the progressive improve- 
ments in the art of shoeing have simply been the hallucinations of 
professional enthusiasm. 
If, as Mr. Gloag asserts, there be no descent of the horny con- 
cave sole, and, by inference, no appreciable descent of the sensible 
sole upon it, nor auxiliary aid given thereby to the pedal circula- 
tion, why should the farrier expend his time and dexterity in 
rendering concave the upper surface of the shoe, to provide for a 
contingency (bruising of the sensitive structures) that cannot 
occur, or an action (descent of the sole) which does not take 
place 7 
Secondly, if there be no lateral expansion of the foot, then the 
idea of a fetter from nailing would be chimerical, and the unilateral 
shoe useless. 
As I do not approve of the nature of the experiments, or coincide 
in the conclusions drawn from them, I trust it will not be consi- 
dered presumptuous to endeavour to point out the inaptitude of 
the one, or the sophism which has led to the other. 
Primarily, it is highly necessary that the meaning of Mr. Gloag 
should be rightly understood ; and, if I truly comprehend the ex- 
periments, the inferior border of the crust is first made perfectly 
level, before the shoe, which has its heels sprung, is applied ; con- 
sequently, an angular space is left between each heel and the shoe, 
which angular point terminates a little posteriorly to the last nail- 
hole ; the remaining portion of the shoe, upon which the bearing 
is designed to take place, fitting closely and evenly against the 
crast. 
When such a shoe is so placed, it is evi- 
dent that the heels of the hoof can only 
approximate to those of the shoe either by 
a bending of the fibres or by a motion of the 
whole hoof itself. If the fibres yield and the 
nails hold, then the inferior edge of the 
crust, bending down to touch the shoe, and 
being no longer level, must assume the 
position represented in the cut, whenever 
its under surface coincides with the shoe. 
