620 
ON THE EXPANSION BAR SHOE. 
advance the science vve wish to improve. Therefore that shoe 
which can be made with despatch, and is simple in its construc¬ 
tion, providing it is got up on a plan concordant with the func¬ 
tions of the foot, and will stand wear and tear, and can be sold at a 
moderate price, will most undoubtedly be the best shoe for ge¬ 
neral use. To prove the truth of this statement, we have only to 
look back and examine the different shoes in use for these last 
thirty years; and we shall find that the shoe which was most ap¬ 
proved of then is the very same that is most in use at the present 
day. I mean the seated shoe recommended by Messrs. Osmer, 
Clark of Edinburgh, and Moorcroft of London, which, with two or 
three strokes of the hammer, can be made to answer any kind of 
foot, whether concave or convex, at the same time affording an 
equal tread for the animal, will remain on the foot at all kinds of 
work, and in my opinion is, and will be, the best shoe for general 
use for some time to come. - 
I have observed, when horses have been properly shod by a 
careful workman with this shoe, the feet have remained good, 
sound, and as open at the heels as if they had been running at 
grass. But in cases where the foot is ill prepared for the shoe, 
and the shoe is not properly fitted to the foot, what can we expect 
but an alteration in its natural formation, and disease of the sensi¬ 
tive parts. 
There are many who think very lightly of shoeing, and run away 
with the idea, that, although badly executed, it seldom or never 
produces chronic lameness. I, however, from experience, can in¬ 
form such advocates, that I have seen many a valuable horse en¬ 
tirely ruined by one bad shoeing : for example, a horse is brought 
to the forge, a shoe is put flat on the sole, the nails are pressing 
at their necks too near the sensitive foot, the horse is led home, 
goes to exercise three or four mornings, still keeps sound, until 
such time as he is ridden a distance of ten or twelve miles at the 
top of his pace, when he falls amiss, comes home lame, and ten 
chances to one if ever he recovers. The punishment the delicate 
parts of the foot has suffered sets up inflammation, the foundation 
of navicular lameness is laid, and if not a cripple for life, he gene¬ 
rally loses a considerable share of his original elastic action. 
This is one instance; but I could state many more were it not for 
taking up too much room in your Journal. 
“ Side-nailing” has of late been much recommended, approved 
of, and followed by many practitioners; for which, I believe, we 
are indebted to Mr. Turner, of London. Forlight saddle horses, 
and such as are not given to throw their shoes, and even with 
some good footed heavy horses, I have found it to answer very 
