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EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
readers will perceive, we are now enabled to record the 
further researches of Mr. H. Syer Cuming thereon. In the 
present state of the question it may be, perhaps, too much to 
assert that the practice was adopted by the ancient Greeks; but 
that nailed shoes were very early employed by the Romans— 
contrary to the general opinion of authors—seems to be fairly 
proved. M. Defays confirms the statements of Mr. Cuming 
on this point, and says, in his History of Horse-shoeing, as 
translated by Mr. Ernes, and published in our January 
number, “ that towards the second and third century of our 
era the Romans had already iron plates fastened with nails 
to their horses* feet.** “ Shoes of this description,** he adds, 
“ are found in the ruins of Grachwye, near Berne ; in the 
Roman remains of Avencium ; in the Roman camps of Mount 
Terrible and Dalheim; in the neighbourhood of Jodoigne, 
Louvain, Echternach, Stuttgardt, &c. In all places where 
the Romans have left traces of their sojourn the remains of 
their horse-shoes have been found by the side of their relics. 
These shoes are particularly distinguished by a groove 
or fullering extending from heel to heel, in which the nail- 
holes are placed.*’ 
Coming to later times Mr. Syer Cuming has shown in a 
very satisfactory manner, that the early Teutonic races of 
Britain adopted the same system of defending the feet of 
their horses from injury, following, probably by imitation, 
the practice of their Roman predecessors. 
We again express a hope that these interesting and 
instructive investigations will be continued, and that they 
will receive assistance from the members of our profession. 
Many veterinary surgeons could, we believe, furnish valuable 
information to the archaeologist, by describing the form, size, 
and other particulars, of antique shoes in their possession, 
some of which may, to their knowledge, have been found in 
exploring Roman remains, as also in the digging of wells, 
shafts, &c., or in the making of railways. Of our own 
knowledge many such shoes are extant, as we have often 
seen them in our walk through country establishments. 
We will readily give to such helpers all the assistance in our 
power. 
