656 
REVIEW — ROD way’s patent horseshoe. 
maining fourth of the superficies being constituted of two round, 
prominent, semicircular rims, forming the outer and inner bounda- 
ries of the said groove. Through the concave flooring of this 
groove, as near as possible to the outer side of it, are punched, in 
the ordinary mode, and at the usual distances, the nail-holes, 
through which are to be driven, in the usual way, nails rather 
smaller than would be used with a common shoe of the like size. 
The advantages of this, says Mr. Rod way in his prospectus, 
“over the old (or common) shoe are so self-evident and striking, 
( hat even / person possessing even the slightest knowledge of the 
subject, feels a conviction of its superiority the moment he beholds 
it! and this conviction will increase in proportion to the intelli- 
gence and reflective powers of the mind engaged upon it! The 
great objection to the common shoe is its violation of the inten- 
tions and principles of Nature, in preventing the foot from taking 
that proper hold or grasp upon the earth which is necessary not 
only to the freedom and safety of its action, but also to the 
healthy condition of the parts concerned ; in raising the frog 
from the ground , which is one of the most important organs for 
receiving pressure; acting as a wedge to prevent slipping, and 
giving steadiness to the movements of the horse ; the frog is 
rendered comparatively inert and useless, therefore double work 
is thrown upon the crust or hoof, by which the whole mechanism 
of the foot is deranged, — and as ‘ no animal or any part of an 
animal can be preserved in a healthy state when the natural 
functions are perverted/ it follows as a necessary consequence, 
that the present formation of the shoe is the fruitful source of 
lameness, slipping, and stumbling , — of disease to the animal, and 
often of death to the rider! 1 * 
We remember the late Professor Coleman informing the 
members of the veterinary profession, in his printed circular to 
them, when he brought forth his patent frog-bar horseshoe, that 
his invention was ‘‘to prevent and relieve contracted feet, con- 
tracted frogs, flat soles, corns, sand-cracks, thrushes, canker, 
and quittor:” being somewhere about all , or nearly all, the evils 
the horse’s foot “ is heir to and though we were young at the 
time, and are far from young now, we have not forgotten the 
sensation of surprise the prospectus gave us on its first perusal, 
nor the one of ludicrous joy by which it was speedily followed, 
accompanied with the irresistible impulse to join echo with Dr. 
Eady, who about that day was in the height of his glory, and 
sing, 
“ Come, take mv pills : 
They’ll cure all ills. 
Past", present, and to come!!” 
