4 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
part,—a polish not to be imitated by any artificial means, — but 
which protects the layers of horn beneath, is removed, thereby ren- 
dering the crust more brittle and less well fitted for holding the nails. 
If the shoe is accurately fitted to the foot, and not the foot to the 
shoe, there will be no necessity for reducing the wall with the rasp at 
‘the toe, which gives a stubbed appearance, instead of the natural 
graceful outline. 
“Tt should be ever most strenuously insisted upon, that the whole 
lower face of the hoof, except the border of the wall, must be left in 
a state of nature; the horn of the sole frog and bars has an impor- 
tant duty to fulfil; it is the natural protection to this part of the 
hoof; and no protection of iron, leather, or other material, is half so 
efficacious ; in addition, it is a capital agent in sustaining weight, and 
in keeping the whole foot healthy and perfect in form.” * 
It will thus be seen to what a simple matter the preparation of the 
healthy foot for the shoe is reduced. ‘To maintain this organ in a 
sound and perfectly healthy condition, we must guard especially 
against its mutilation. 
The particular form of shoe to be applied is of far less importance 
_ than a strict adherence to the rules which we have laid down for 
the preparation of the foot. There are, however, several points to 
be considered. The shoe most frequently adopted presents a concave 
surface to the foot, and a flat surface to the ground; a construction 
evidently called forth by the mutilation to which the sole has been 
subjected, and which renders it totally unfit to sustain any pressure 
whatever. Exactly the opposite characteristics are exhibited by the 
shoe best adapted to the protection of the foot which has been pre- 
served in its natural condition. It presents a concave surface to the 
ground, while the plain surface is attached to the foot. In this way, 
the wall and a portion of the sole are called upon to sustain a propor- 
tionate part of the weight, and there is much less chance afforded for 
the lodgement of stones and other foreign bodies between the web of 
the shoe and the foot. Whatever form be adopted, it is most essential 
that the shoe should fit the foot, and in its outline follow the exact 
shape of its ground surface. The usual method of shoeing, which 
allows considerable projection of the heels of the shoe, both in length 
and breadth, is in many cases objectionable, especially as no benefit 
* Practical Horseshoeing, by G. Fleming, F.R.G.S., &c. 
