232 DAKVILT. ON THE CARE, TREATMENT, 
from strong and rapid work, not more than half are again brought 
permanently sound, unless their work is stopped, and early means 
resorted to for their relief.” 
Mr. D. next adverts to the asserted fact, u that horses on the 
Continent are not to be seen lame in their feet to any thing like 
the extent of our horses in England,” and, very properly, denies 
that this is to be referred to any “ superiority” in their method of 
shoeing; but is rather the result of the absence of causes which 
tend to induce inflammation in the feet, the principal of which is 
the rapidity and duration of the pace our stage-horses go at, com¬ 
pared with the Continental horses ; and the kind of feet possessed, 
generally, by the latter, which are such as are least of all disposed 
to the navicular disease. 
In the form of the shoe, we quite and entirely concur with Mr. 
D. “ The surface of the shoe next the foot may be perfectly 
fiat, but the surface next the ground should be gradually bevelled 
off all round , from the fettering or nailing part to the inner edge, 
to give a horse a firmer hold on the ground with his feet.” 
Chap. XXIII.—ON PLATING RACE-HORSES. 
“ Racers should always be plated before they are brought to 
post, where it can be done with safety. All men conversant with 
the turf are fully aware of the very great importance of weight. 
They consider, and very justly too, that every ounce is of conse¬ 
quence, when horses are supposed to be equally matched, and more 
particularly when they have to come long lengths.” 
As an accident may happen, even under the best and most 
careful hands, it is advisable “ to plate horses the evening before 
running, after their coming in from exercise. On the morning 
that a horse is going to run, it is usual to walk him out on the 
heath, and then let him take a short canter, merely to see if all 
is right, and he is well on his feet and legs. If the horse is ob¬ 
served to go stiff or short, and if the groom is of opinion that 
this is occasioned by any thing wrong about his feet, there will be 
time to remove the plates, and to give the nails less hold or a dif¬ 
ferent direction.” 
As directions to be attended to in plating horses, Mr. D. ob¬ 
serves, “ If there is any difference to be made between the size 
of the shoe and that of the plate, it is that the latter should be 
rather less than the former in its circumference round the foot, so 
that the plate may, to a certain extent, rest in the bed which may 
have been formed by the shoe. The plate should not, by any 
means, project beyond the edge of the hoof. And as the crust or 
wall of the hoof that has often been plated may be more or less 
broken, the groom should direct the smith, as he is measuring 
