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IMPROVED METHOD OF SHOEING. 
At the expiration of three or four months, this method of shoe- 
ing proved not only a perfect remedy for the cutting, but it also 
effected a most important change in the shape of the hoofs, which 
altered from contracted to open expanded feet , during the per¬ 
formance of very hard work. That this plan should have proved 
a remedy for the cutting, was no more than I expected, because 
it had succeeded in instances out of number ; and I acknowledge 
the practice is nearly as old as the hills; but if in this said old 
method of shoeing, somewhat modified, there is to be found the 
necessary defence for the foot without the natural expansion of 
the hoof being impeded or restrained by the ring of iron nailed 
thereon, or, in other words, which will admit of all the functions 
of the foot being duly performed, I will venture to pronounce it 
the horseman’s grand desideratum. 
The great mistake in shoeing, which in all probability origi¬ 
nated with the art itself, and has continued up to this hour, con¬ 
sists in the nailing an unyielding body of iron to both sides or 
quarters of the foot, when, in truth, there is a necessity for the 
one side only to be bound or hampered by this iron cage. 
Now, Mr. Editor, I surmise you are about to ask me, whether 
I have discovered the means by which the necessary protection of 
iron can be attached and secured to the foot during constant and 
quiciy road work, and yet pierce one side only of the hoof with 
nails. My answer; is in the affirmative, and which I have sub¬ 
jected to the test of road work equal to posting. But the fact is, 
in the majority of instances, no more is necessary than a little 
extra nailing, as to number, in the outside quarter, accompanied 
with small clips judiciously applied, in order to secure the shoe 
during a month’s wear. It will hereafter be seen, and I pledge 
myself to shew, that if the inner wall or half of the foot be duly 
protected, free of restraint, that the outer wall, or other half of 
the foot, will take care of itself, or rather is capable of resisting, 
the restraint which the shoe and nails oppose to it. 
The inside heel of the horse’s fore foot cannot certainly be said 
to be this "animal’s only vulnerable part; but it may almost be 
considered so in comparison to the outside heel of his foot ; for, if 
we search for com, we go immediately to the inside heel, but we- 
should no more expect to find a corn in his outside heel, than we 
should in his hind foot, although it must be admitted this disease 
does occasionally exist in these parts. Contraction, we generally 
find to the greater extent in the inside quarter ; and it is also the 
seat of sandcrack nine times out of ten, in comparison to the 
outside. In short, I would say, that the inside quarter of the 
foot is its wearing place , if I may be allowed such an expression. 
On taking up the unshod foot of a four-year old. colt (which 
