658 
REVIEW — RODWAV’S PATENT HORSESHOE. 
the common shoe ; for not only is he enabled to clutch the earth 
with greater power by means of the double sides of the shoe, but 
as every part of the foot is brought nearer to the ground by means 
of the concavity (except when upon a perfectly unyielding sur- 
face), each part is assisted in taking its natural bearing, and all 
its functions are more effectually brought into operation, a fact 
which will be considered of the highest importance by those who 
are intimately acquainted with the * nature, form, and texture of 
horses’ feet,’ — thus the animal will use his limbs with increased 
conjidence and safety, — thus contracted heels, thrush, inflammation 
of the coflin joint , splint , and spavin , will be less frequent, — thus 
pain will be prevented , disease avoided , money saved, and life 
preserved /” 
As travellers, bv a sort of license recognisable by those who 
peruse their “ travels/’ are allowed to 4 * see strange things,” so 
patentees, Mr. Rod way appears to imagine, have a right to co- 
lour up their representations in their own way, without regard to 
the impression such colouring may make upon the minds of those 
who are competent judges of the performances. What can he 
expect the feelings of veterinarians — of men who have son-e pre- 
tensions to medical science, to a knowledge of the anatomy and 
physiology of the horse’s foot, and to the art of shoeing — to be, 
when he gravely tells them, that so simple an affair as the groove 
upon the surface of his shoe can augment the horse’s “ hold or 
purchase upon the ground at least tenfold 'more than the common 
shoe?” and that, through the same, 6< all the functions of the foot 
are more effectually brought into operation ?” — and that, in con- 
sequence, “ the animal will use his limbs with increased confidence 
and safety ?” and, thereby, “ contracted heels, thrush, inflammation 
oj' the cojfln-joint , splint, and spavin, will be less frequent?” and 
thus We must stop here : there is no reasoning with a man 
who will make sweeping assertions like these. If our knowledge 
of the foot and of shoeing go for any thing, no horseshoe that 
ever was or ever will be invented can possess the properties which 
in this paragraph are ascribed to Mr. Rodway’s. 
“But the patent concave shoe possesses other advantages which 
in an eminent degree entitle it to public favour, and will, doubt- 
less, cause it to supersede the common shoe; namely, it is not 
liable to be thrown, it is lighter, it will not require removing, and 
it will obviate in a great degree the objectionable necessity of 
turning up in winter. These facts will appear from the following 
considerations: — First, the shoe is prevented from; being thrown 
by the nails being driven and countersunk in the concavity, 
which effectually protects them from wear, and causes them to 
endure as long as the shoe : this circumstance can only be duly 
