S94 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
It is seated on the foot side, and the outer portion made 
as accurately flat as possible, and of the exact width of the 
crust, which it is designed alone to support; so that the 
entire weight of that union which exists between the nume¬ 
rous little plates which are arranged upon the internal 
surface of the wall of the foot (which are more particularly 
described at page 254) and this portion, supports the whole 
weight of the horse. This flattened portion of the shoe is 
wider towards the heel, and occupies the entire breadth of 
the web, to support the heel of the crust and its reflected 
portion, the bar; so that while it protects the horn included 
within the angle from injury, it promotes that equal pressure 
upon the bar and crust, which is most likely to prevent 
contraction as well as the growth of the corn. 
We have given a representation of this shoe, plate xi 
fig. 1. It is secured to the foot by nine nails, five on 
the outside, and four on the inner side of the shoe. These 
are not placed parallel to each other, but the outside ones 
extend a little further towards the heel than on the 
other side, because the outside heel has more nail-hold, and 
is thicker and stronger than the inside. When the feet are 
of moderate size, and not a great deal of work required of 
the animal, three nails on the inside and four on the outside 
will be sufficient, and the last nail being distant from the 
heel, will permit of expansion in that part. Besides, it is 
always desirable that as few nails as possible should be used, 
so that they are sufficient to secure the adhesion of the 
shoe. That there may be no pressure on the sole, the 
inside of the web of the shoe is bevelled off, or rendered 
concave. As we have already explained, the foot of the 
horse is exceedingly susceptible, and easily bruised if the 
sole comes in contact with hard substances. Although it i® 
so far protected by the iron shoe, the sole descends sliphtiv 
