ON SHOEING BY ONE-SIDE NAILING. 
455 
explained the anatomy of that organ with the greatest minute- 
ness ; yet there remains a large field for cultivation. 
In the first place, I shall ask my professional brethren one 
question. Supposing we are called to give our advice in twenty 
cases, out of this number shall we not find ten of lameness in the 
feet ? I venture to say that you will answer in the affirmative ; 
and the major part of these horses are suffering from contrac- 
tion, which I consider the most deadly foe which that elastic 
organ has to contend against, and which the veterinary sur- 
geon finds the greatest difficulty in subduing. 
Now, an injudicious method of shoeing is generally the 
cause of contraction : hence disorganization, ossification of 
cartilage, navicular lameness, thrushes, &c.: in short, it is a 
complicated lameness ; and the shoeing smith (in general) must 
bear the blame. The horse is turned over to the veterinary 
surgeon ; his shoes are pulled off, his soles are pared out, and 
all the exuberant parts of the horn cut away with a drawing 
knife; in short, the whole horny box is made as yielding as 
possible. A blister is then applied to the coronet, and with the 
addition of leather and tar stuffing, the shoes are again nailed 
to the feet, with four nails placed in each quarter of the shoe. 
O thou universal fetter! what an absurd conclusion of his well- 
meant endeavours to check the progress of contraction and set 
at liberty the elasticity and vascularity of that organ which is 
so wonderfully adapted by nature to perform its office. 
Our alternative now remains between the old system of shoe- 
ing, and the one suggested by Mr. Turner, — that of one-side 
nailing ; there is no other system of shoeing that deserves 
consideration. For my part, I would earnestly recommend all 
who are engaged in our laudable profession to give Mr. Turner’s 
plan a fair trial. I have done so myself with the most perfect 
success; although at first I did it with fear. Inconsequence 
of the shoe being attached to the foot by little more than one 
side, it appeared to me to be insecure, yet, I saw (in another 
point of view) its superior advantage over the shoe in common 
use, as it would admit of more freedom to the foot. I was 
therefore resolved to put the system of one-side nailing fairly to 
the test; and I will pledge my truth and honour, that even in 
hunting, posting, and on roadsters of every description, I have 
used it with success. 
Having proved the security of the shoe, it only remains to 
shew the advantages resulting from Mr. Turner’s mode of shoe- 
ing over that in general use. By a frequent application of this 
unyielding hoop (which is attached to the foot by four nails in 
each quarter) the horse’s foot undergoes a wonderful alteration 
