600 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
needs protection. We must bear in mind that shoeing is neces¬ 
sarily an evil. It is only an effort to supply a protection to the 
parts that have been worn away by our unnatural treatment of 
the foot, therefore we must not cover up or burden any more 
of the foot than is absolutely necessary to protect the parts worn 
away. The narrow-web is light and efficient, and if properly 
applied fills every requirement, and does not burden the foot. 
In our professional duties our attention is almost daily called to 
bruises of the sole caused by some foreign substance becoming 
lodged between the broad-webbed shoe and the sole, thereby 
causing a very formidable and dangerous wound, which ofttimes, 
if not properly attended to, causes tetanus from septic absorp¬ 
tion. 
In regard to the question, “ Is not the narrow-webbed shoe 
becoming in favor in your locality ? ” I would say, emphatically 
yes ! Why ? I know no other reason than that the American 
people are becoming more enlightened, and are recognizing the 
fact that their pecuniary interest demands sound reasoning on 
this subject. The country is being filled with intelligent, prac¬ 
tical veterinarians who are able to reason these questions from a 
scientific standpoint, thereby doing away with superstitions and 
causing the smith to be a practical, thinking man, that can 
handle the foot of the horse in a way becoming the present age. 
But a short time ago I was called to examine the driving mare 
of a very practical physician, for an unaccounted for lameness. 
After locating the trouble, I advised shoeing her in a certain 
way, which was done. In conversation with me on the subject 
some time after, he said, “It is quite probable that I will have 
to admit that merely nailing a chunk of iron on a horse’s foot is 
not shoeing him.” What we want is practical skill in shoeing 
horses, and not superstition and ignorance. Allow me to quote 
Prof. Fleming again to justify my position concerning narrow- 
webbed shoes. He says : “It must be laid down as a rule in 
farriery, and from which there must be no departure, that the 
sole of the foot is a part not to be interfered with on any pre¬ 
tense so long as the foot is in health, not even the flakes are to 
be disturbed ; it should ever most strenuously be insisted upon 
that the whole lower face of the hoof, excepting the border of 
the wall, must be left in a state of nature ; the horn of the sole, 
frog and base has an important duty to perform or fulfill; it is 
the natural protection of this part of the hoof, and no protection 
of iron, leather or other material is half so efficacious; in addi¬ 
tion, it is a capital agent in sustaining weight, and making the 
