PERIPLANTAR SHOEING. 
713 
garhlmg and misrepresenting his statements in this respect), 
when told that “ very weak and flat feet with very large frogs 
require cutting.” But it may be asked how a man, pretend¬ 
ing to he the highest authority on the subject, can justify 
this mutilation of an unfortunate horse’s feet, when very 
many, not even in the profession, would say let them alone ? 
I am accused of not knowing or ignoring the fact of the 
existence of a special form of horse shoe invented by this 
Veterinary Surgeon. Let me draw attention to the circum¬ 
stance that in Bourgelat’s ‘ Essai Theorique et Pratique sur 
la Ferrure,’ published at Paris in 1771, there is a shoe figured 
and described which, in principle, I believe to be identical 
with this special shoe. It does not appear to have been so 
clumsy, however; and it possesses what I would look upon 
as an advantage—the absence of bevel on the sole surface. 
There can be no doubt whatever as to its convex ground sur¬ 
face. It has long been condemned as a proper shoe for wear, 
and it is obvious enough why it should be so. I believe that 
in congestion of the feet—or ‘‘ laminitis,” as it has been 
termed—the chief, if not the whole, benefit derived is due 
to exercise; and to prove that this is so, it is only necessary 
to shoe a horse so afiected with special shoes, and keep him 
standing in a stall; while another, suffering to the same 
degree, is allowed proper exercise without such appliances. 
I am perfectly willing to abide by the result of this experi¬ 
ment, which appears to be imperatively demanded; as a short 
time ago we were informed that mild cases would recover 
without special shoes, and now it appears that none recover; 
also that certain cases would not recover by means of exercise 
and special shoes, several failures having occurred; and now 
all have recovered, and no failures are known. 
To show, however, that the treatment without special 
shoes is successfully practised, to prove that it is not specially 
mine—though I first extensively tried it in 1860 Avhile in 
China—and also to demonstrate that all veterinary know¬ 
ledge is not limited to the ancient Aquae Solis, let me refer 
to M. Goyau’s excellent little treatise on this subject. 
Though a continental authority, perhaps some among us will 
not think ourselves above listening to what he says, but, 
as he is a military veterinary surgeon (and Professor at the 
Military School at Saint Cyr), this may be adduced as another 
reason why his testimony is worthless by others. 
Describing the nature and causes of laminitis, he proceeds 
to its treatment. Pointing out that rest in laminitis is the 
chief cause of the chronic form, and often produces incurable 
lesions, he insists upon the adoption of energetic treatment. 
