REVIEW: — PLOMLEY S IMPROVED HORSE-SHOE. 315 
measured, in a line running directly across from one heel to the 
other (o, o), not above a couple of inches is found left for the pro- 
jection of the base or bulbous portion of the frog. Upon the bear- 
ing places of the hoof, formed by the inflections of the heels of the 
crust, the heels of the shoe come to points ( b , d ), and so correspond 
in shape to the heels of the crust. These peculiarities may, at first 
sight, appear as matters of taste or fancy. No such thing, how- 
ever, seems to have entered the maker’s head. He has evidently 
done all this with design. His object has been to “ afford protec- 
tion to the posterior parts of the foot and this, with very many 
horses, constructed as our roads in the country at present are, is both 
art innovation and an improvement on the ordinary broad- web horse- 
shoe. 
So far Mr. Plomley has brought before us a shoe of which, from 
the three months’ trial we have already had of it on some half-a- 
dozen horses — including those we ride and drive ourselves — we can 
speak very favourably. It has in our eye some strong recom- 
mendations to public notice ; and we only wish, for the improver’s 
sake, that he had not, in his prospectus setting forth its “ advan- 
tages,” & c., put down to the credit side of its account more than it 
will or can, in our opinion, ever be found to respond to. It is, as 
we think, a great mistake to bepraise any man or thing over much: 
experience will be sure to find such fulsome adulation out in the 
long run ; and then the vox populi will be apt to detract from him 
or it even that small amount of merit which either really may or 
does possess. However, we cannot act otherwise than take the 
prospectus as it comes before us ; and therefore we must needs set 
forth, verbatim et literatim, Mr. Plomley’s account in his own 
words of “ the advantages of the improved horseshoe.” 
1st. “ It affords greater protection to the foot, especially at the 
posterior part.” 
2dly. “ It enables the horse to use all the powers of his foot, and 
travel with ease.” 
3dly. “It prevents the chipping out of the horny exfoliating 
sole.” 
4thly. “ It prevents bruises and the picking up of stones, when 
properly applied.” 
5thly. “ It lessens the concussion, by its greater breadth of 
surface.”. 
