MR. BROAD IN REPLY TO MR. FLEMING. 507 
and adulterations are crying evils; but let those who have 
to do with seeds^ whether as medical men or as farmers, 
become acquainted with their natural history, and then few 
will want the legislature to interfere to protect their interests. 
Those who employ plants either as food or medicine, or who 
have to study and witness the effects of these, should surely 
study their nature, habits, and products. To this end we have 
offered our few remarks upon the principles of botany with 
a view to the after examination of different classes of plants, 
and a general review of their products and uses. 
MR. BROAD IN REPLY TO MR. FLEMING. 
In reply to Mr. Fleming's letter in this month’s 
Veterinarian, I beg to state that no member ought to be dis¬ 
pleased with another for differing from him, as it is often the 
means of bringing out new ideas. I have to thank Mr. 
Fleming for differing from me on the rationale of heavy 
bar-shoes in laminitis, and stout shoes where feet are flat and 
weak, as it has induced me to thoroughly investigate the 
theory, the facts of which I have been many years cognizant 
of, and which is received as correct by the majority of prac¬ 
tically experienced persons, notwithstanding Mr. Fleming’s 
statement that it is a fallacy which has dominated farriery 
for several centuries, and proved a fruitful source of mischief.” 
I believe that I shall now be able to prove to the satisfaction 
of the readers of the Veterinarian, if not to Mr. Fleming, that 
it is not a fallacy, and, in addition to giving the correct theory 
of the beneficial effects of heavy shoes on weak feet, it will 
also give a new idea in reference to the cause of other diseases 
of the feet. 
Mr. Fleming has asserted but not proved ”) that my 
heavy shoes are wrong in theory and practice. In support of 
their being practically right, I have been told by Mr. Lawson 
that since their introduction he has used them in a number 
of cases of laminitis without a failure; Professor Williams, 
Mr. Greaves our President, Mr. John Greaves, Mr. W. C. 
Lawson, Mr. Thos. Taylor, of Manchester, and many others, 
from whom I have received the most favorable reports of the 
success of my plan of treatment. I must confess that I am 
astonished at the statement that heavy shoes increase con- 
cussiom” It does not require a deep study of mechanical 
philosophy ” to find from riding or driving a horse whose feet 
