MR. J. TURNER’S REPLY TO MR. C. CLARK. 365 
wards out of the stable is the exciting cause of lameness; and 
thus it is that Mr. B. Clark’s famous joint-shoe, after several 
years trial, has not proved a “ basis for the repose of the profes¬ 
sion,” as this gentleman so triumphantly expressed himself. 
When the owner of a rare and valuable nag is congratulating 
himself on the rest he affords his pet in the stable, he little thinks 
that his mistaken kindness consigns his favourite to a canker 
worm. 
I next propose to shew my object in recommending the half 
nailing system. 1st, It affords the hoof sufficient protection by 
the shoe ; 2dly, it permits all the natural functions of the foot to 
be duly 7 performed, even in the greatest exertions of the animal; 
3dly, which is of paramount importance, it allows the foot to 
dilate in the stable , by the weight of the horse alone, after the 
manner of an unshod foot; and therefore, Mr. Editor, I shall 
take upon myself to designate it The New Unfettered System of 
Shoeing, 
Freedom from the restraint of nails is not the only benefit re¬ 
sulting from this plan, there is another of equal importance which 
this method affords, viz. it leaves a space sufficient for a flatten¬ 
ed straw to be drawn between the hoof and the shoe on the inside 
quarter, when the foot is off the ground (but more on this point 
another day), and which I take to be perfection in the art of 
shoeing. Can the complex tablet expansion shoe compete with 
this? No, even if all were allowed that its ingenious author him¬ 
self imagines it to possess. Moreover, I venture to predict, that 
in a veiy few years the unfettered system cf shoeing will be¬ 
come the general method in this metropolis, to the utter annihi¬ 
lation of Bracy Clark’s jointed shoe. It must carry all before it 
on account of its simplicity and efficiency combined. 
Although Mr. Charles Clark and I are agreed that this prac¬ 
tice of shoeing is as old as the hills, yet he complains that my 
paper contains nothing new, and that he can bring the evidence 
of numerous persons who have been in the constant practice of 
nailing common shoes round the toe and on one side only for 
many years. I can tell Mr. Clark, that as my ancestors have 
been farriers for four generations in succession, and all kept shoe¬ 
ing forges, I can produce, by old documents, as early records of 
this practice, I think, as any man living ; but with regard to the 
published statements respecting this plan which he refers to, much 
explanation is necessary. 
Mr. Clark asserts that this is the first opinion on the subject 
of shoeing that I have publicly espoused. If Mr. C. will take 
the trouble to refer to my paper on the navicular disease , or 
chronic lameness in the feet of horses, published in “ The Ve- 
3 B 
