MR. REEVE IN REPLY TO MR. GLOAG. 
199 
of an inch. To this must be added the amount of expansion in the 
frog and commissures, and the calculation is complete. It will be 
seen that I have disregarded the curve of the sole, considering it 
too slight to materially affect the result. 
Seeing, therefore, the very small amount of lateral expansion 
which we are to expect, Mr. Gloag will perceive my motive for 
bringing the lateral pins into actual contact with the crust, instead 
of leaving a small space, as was done in the experiment with the 
sole; and he will also perceive that, by the interposition of a thin 
sheet of tin between the points of the pins and crust, he monopo- 
lized nearly the whole amount of expansion that could have taken 
place. Nevertheless, he obtained indications to the fortieth of an 
inch, together with sundry scratches and bruises. 
Mr. Gloag is quite correct in speaking of the scratches caused 
by the motion of the shoe : these I myself observed, but there 
were also unmistakeable punctures. 
Having, now, vindicated my experiments from the discredit 
which they might have sustained by the substitution of a different 
kind of shoe from the one I used, and also pointed out the reasons 
which operated to prevent Mr. Gloag from obtaining results similar 
to my own, I will briefly allude to an observation at page 168 , 
paragraph fourth. Here Mr. Gloag has mistaken my meaning 
when he understands me to say, “ that, if a space were left be- 
tween the heels of the horse’s foot and the shoe in natural action, 
no approximation of the heels of the foot and the shoe would take 
place ; but immediately the horse wished to do so, he could dart 
his heels down.” My observations were intended to apply solely 
to the unshod foot; the allusion to his sliding upon the wooden 
pavement was merely intended as illustrative of the use to which 
the horse instinctively applies the hinder part of the foot, even 
when it is impossible for him to avail himself thereof in conse- 
quence of the interposition of the shoe. But as the bow must 
be occasionally unstrung, so relaxation is beneficial to the philo- 
sophic mind ; and Mr. Gloag has here, I suspect, been resting from 
his labours whilst indulging in the little wilful pleasantry of mis- 
conception. 
Trusting to find that the subject has been taken up by other 
parties more able than myself, with many thanks for your kind 
indulgence, I beg to subscribe myself, 
Sir, your’s faithfully, 
W. Geo. Reeve. 
March 9th, 1850, 
1, Elizabeth-street, Eaton-square. 
P.S. — Allow me to add, that, should there really exist the 
downward and backward action as described by Mr. Gloag, by 
