248 
ON SHOEING. 
bearing throughout on the ground surface of the crust, and the 
shoe not to project in the slightest degree (outwards) in any 
part ; the heels of the shoe to terminate evenly with the foot. 
What I have advanced will be sufficient, I trust, to invite 
some .remarks from others on the subject; and, if it is desired, I 
shall only be too happy to give all the information in my power 
as to the effects I have witnessed upon this plan of shoeing. 
I remain, &c. 
ON SHOEING. 
By Charles Percivall, Veterinary Surgeon, Royal Artillery. 
My dear Mr. Editor,—I HAVE lately been devoting much 
attention to shoeing, and I flatter myself I now have the horses 
under my care as well shod as any in her Majesty’s service. 
Since it is only by practical experience and attentive observa¬ 
tion, from time to time, that the pernicious practices of the 
smith present themselves to our notice, I will enumerate the 
chief of them, knowing that your time is too much taken up, 
and too valuable, to admit of your spending much of it in the 
forge; and if they should prove of any use to you, they are at 
your service. 
The shoe I found in use here was made concave next the 
foot and flat on the ground surface; than which, in my opinion, 
nothing can be worse. This shoe I have had reversed, making 
the latter as concave as the foot will possibly admit of, leaving 
only sufficient room between the shoe and the foot for the 
picker to pass freely round, to remove the dirt, &c. To the 
heels of the shoe I have given an incline plane outwards on 
the foot surface, with three nails on the inside and four on the 
outside. The heels, instead of being cut off straight, I have 
well sloped and about the same thickness as the toe. The 
shoe one-third as thick at the heel as the toe, recommended by 
the late Professor, the majority of our horses could not travel in. 
There are many pernicious practices which smiths in general, 
if left to themselves, fall into; viz. 
1st, Mutilating the frogs by improper cutting .—I have, at 
length, got my farriers to understand, that the only part of the 
frog which ever requires cutting, unless ragged, is the point, 
to prevent the sensible frog being bruised between it and the 
coffin-bone. 
2dly, Inflicting serious injury to the crust, by an improper 
use of the rasp, but especially the coarse side of it. 
