REMARKS ON MR. REEVE’S EXPERIMENTS. 
143 
4 th Experiment. — A strong mare, with rather flat feet. The 
near fore foot, the harrow-bar shoe, No. 2, used ; four nails out- 
side and two inside. 
Result. — Before taking the shoe off, the sole opposite to the 
points of each screw was examined, by withdrawing the screw ; 
but no mark could be seen. The shoe was then taken off, but no 
mark was found; but whilst we were talking the matter over, 
the farrier, being an unbeliever, had wet the horn with his finger, 
and said he could see a mark of the point of the screw ; and we 
did agree that there was a mark to the extent, I should imagine, 
of the thickness of the paper on which I now write. I must own 
I was surprised not to see some descent of sole at this spot, as it 
was the only place I did expect to find it I must say that, 
strong as my convictions w r ere that I was right about the non- 
descent of the sole under the ordinary circumstances of shoeing, 
yet that, to see a heavy horse pounding along with a lot of sharp 
spikes under his foot, made me a little nervous for the result. 
5lh Experiment. — A heavy-going mare, with flat feet. Off 
fore foot, the lateral harrow-shoe, No. 3, used, and with all the 
care that could be given to its adjustment. 
Result. — No appreciable mark was found opposite to the point 
of any screw, excepting the most backward of the upper row, 
which presented the appearances I have before noted ; the other 
marks, if they existed, were merely scratches or specks, and con- 
fined to the upper screw. (If I had wished to confine myself 
strictly to the lower circumferent border of the foot, I need not 
have put in the upper and back screw.) I can only attribute the 
mark in the last upper and back screw opposite to the heels to 
the fact, that, as the outside quarter was free of nails, the shoe 
did not lie light against the heels, and therefore there was a 
light spring which allowed of the declination of the heel against 
the screw to a trifling extent. 
6th Experiment. — The same mare. The near fore foot, har- 
row shoe, No. 1, applied with only six nails, four outside and 
two round the toe to the inside. 
Result. — There was not the slightest mark from any screw. 
1th Experiment. — The same mare. The same foot, the har- 
row-bar shoe, No. 2, used with the same number of nails, and in 
the same situation. 
Results. — None ; not a mark. 
8 th Experiment. — A heavy cart-horse, with good feet ; mode- 
rately concave, and plenty of horn. The off fore foot, the har- 
row shoe, No. 4, used, and the screws most carefully adjusted : 
two nails were left out on the inside quarter. 
