THE PREFERABLE MODE OF APPLYING GUTTA PERCH A. 71 
voted his talents and leisure to the study of the foot of the 
horse and of scientific shoeing. Such a reputation will deserv¬ 
edly advance any young veterinarian. 
Now, Mr. Editor, in closing this paper, I must still further 
trespass on your valuable pages for the purpose of tendering 
you my heartfelt thanks, in conjunction, as I suppose, with all 
the elder members of the veterinary profession throughout the 
United Kingdom, for your energetic movement in rushing to 
the rescue of a name from undeserved exclusion by the French 
author, which is unquestionably the earliest and most brilliant 
in the annals of veterinary history of this empire. 
Edward Coleman’s name, when at the height of his 
PRACTICAL CAREER, PASSED CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE 
LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE LAND AS IDENTIFIED WITH 
THE FOOT OF THE HORSE, FROM THE PRINCE IN THE PALACE 
TO THE POSTILLION ON THE ROAD ! 
THE PREFERABLE MODE OF APPLYING 
GUTTA PERCHA. 
By Thomas Marshall, Esq., Cresswell Park, Blackheath. 
The manner in which the gutta percha sole was used, as 
described by you in one of your late numbers of The VETERI¬ 
NARIAN, is not so explicit but that it may in some instances fail 
for want of being properly adjusted, in the first instance, to the 
foot of the horse. As I have been accustomed to use gutta percha 
soles for my horse for more than two years with complete success, 
I can form a pretty good opinion of their utility: I therefore here¬ 
with transmit to you an account of the method I follow. In the 
first place, the hoof of the horse is immersed in very hot water 
for five or six minutes, until quite hot, and is afterwards wiped 
quite dry. Then take the solution (which must first be made warm 
by being melted to the substance of glue), and, with your warm 
finger, rub a thick coating of the same well over the whole surface 
of the bottom of the hoof, underneath the shoe, in the manner 
you would paste. When ready to receive the gutta percha, the 
piece intended to be applied must be warmed throughout, until 
it is just soft enough to take the required shape, having been 
cut nearly to the size at first. This may be done by allowing 
it to remain in boiling water for a few minutes, or by placing it 
upon a hot plate, steam heat, or upon a smooth board before the 
fire. If you soften the sole in boiling water (which is the 
