THE FRENCH METHOD OF SHOEING HORSES. 207 
which the Indian people move in their wooden shoes, which 
are considerably curved at the toe, when compared with the diffi¬ 
culty of moving with those that have a straight, unyielding sole. 
“ The shape of the coffin-bone is another proof of the French 
system being more consistent with the principles of nature than 
the straight ordinary shoe. If the coffin-bone of a fore foot be 
placed upon a level surface, the quarters and heels are the only 
parts in contact with it, which proves that they are intended by 
nature to meet the ground first, and to bear the greater propor¬ 
tion of the weight. But if the quarters of the hoof be removed 
to admit of the straight shoe, the portion of weight intended to 
be borne on the quarters must be thrown upon the heels, and 
hence the great mischief which ensues from the common English 
shoe. It has been said that the coffin-bone is not of the form I 
have described it to be. I suspect such an opinion has been 
erroneously formed from an inspection of a bone which has 
undergone a change from the effects of shoeing. 
61 If we contrast the curved form of the French shoe with 
the straight line of the English, it is obvious that the latter is 
as much calculated to oppose the action of the leg and foot as 
the former is to facilitate it. For, in order to apply the straight 
shoe, the toe is allowed to grow and project far beyond the 
extent proper and necessary for the protection of the internal 
contents; and in addition to this, if the shoe be made three 
times thicker at the toe than at the heels, the opposition to 
action must be increased in proportion. 
“ Notwithstanding I am fully convinced of the decided supe¬ 
riority of the French method of nailing on the shoes, and of 
the peculiar advantages of the curve at the toe, still I have 
two objections to the French system in general, viz., the con¬ 
vex form of the shoe on the ground side, and the concave form 
on the foot side. I object to the first because ther horse is by no 
means so safe or secure upon his feet, more particularly when 
going over stones. To the second, I refer for my objections to 
the chapter on the common English shoe.”— Op. Cit , chap. xvii. 
The French Method of Nailing on their Shoes is 
described (in chap, xxxi, p. 310) as follows :—“ Instead of 
driving the nails into the crust (in the direction of its fibres), a 
greater hold is taken, as the manner of punching the hole (in 
the shoe) indicates. The nail is driven within the crust, and 
goes through a portion of the sole. It takes a short oblique 
outward direction through the crust, which is the reverse of the 
English plan, as has been shewn. By taking so much hold, 
and giving an oblique outward direction, the smith is enabled 
to bring the clinches so much lower in the hoof/ and nearer to 
the shoe. This direction of the nail affords a much stronger 
hold of the foot, and is less liable to split.”— Op. Cit., 
chap, xxxi,, p. 310. 
