29 
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
our best forges, and promises gradually to supersede the flat and the 
simple concave shoe, although it must, in many respects, yield to the 
unilateral shoe. , . , . • „„ 
It presents a perfectly flat surface to the ground, m order to give as 
many points of bearing as possible, except that, on the outer edge, there 
is a groove or fuller, in which the nail-holes are punched, so that, sink- 
ing into the fuller, their heads project but a little way, and are soon 
worn down level with the shoe. , . , 
The web of this shoe is of the same thickness throughout, from the 
toe to the heel; and it is sufficiently wide to guard the sole from 
bruises, and, as much so as the frog will permit, to cover the seat ot 
On the foot side it is seated. The outer part of it is accurately flat, 
and of the width of the crust, and designed to support the crust, tor by 
it the whole weight of the horse is sustained. . . . 
Toward the heel this flattened part is wider, and occupies the whole 
breadth of the web, in order to support the heel of the crust and its 
reflected part, the bar; thus, while it defends the horn included within 
this angle from injury, it gives that equal pressure from the bar and the 
crust which is the best preventive against corns, and a powerful obstacle 
to contraction. . . , „ 
It is fastened to the foot by nine nails— five on the outside, and four 
on the inner side of the shoe; those on the outside extending a little 
farther down toward the heel, because the outside heel is thicker and 
stronger, and there is more nail-hold ; the last nail on the inner quar ei 
being farther from the heel, on account of the weakness ot that quarter. 
For feet not too large, and where moderate work only is required from 
