The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-18

avail. Such shoe should be both con-
cave and convex in shape, and formed to
correspond with the structure of the foot.
The weight Of the animal should be thrown
upon the hard outer wall, and be equally
distributed upon all portions of the foot
which were intended to bear such weight.
BY looking at the horses foot it will be
seen that the portions thus intended to
bear his weight are the front and quar-
tiers. The depth of hoof in these portions
Is very great; while at the heel the hoof
is thin and not calculated for heavy pres
sure. Now, with the common, flat, three
cOrked shoe, over two-thirds of the weight
of the animal is thrown upon the heel
of the foot, or upon it's most tender por-
ton. With correct shoe, this tender
part of the hoof will be almost entirely
relieved from this pressure, and be made
to bear only it's natural proportion; a
thing impossible with the ordinary shoe,
for, in that, two of the three corks are set
directly under the heel.
Such shoe as / have describeti-one
obviating every objection that can be
urged against the common shoe, and ans
wering every requirement of the perfect
shoe, is found, SO far as l can Judge, in
the shoe made under the Goodenough
patent. Of the full width of the common
shoe, its lower surface is concave, bringing
the pressure ION the outer edge, and thus
corresponding exactly with the shape and
design of the natural foot. Instead of
three, it is made with five or seven cOrks,
interspersed along the toe and quarters If
the hoof where there is depth sufficientto
bear the wei Int, while the heel S relieved;
or rather the shoe is corked all round, with
holes cOunte. sunk for the nails by which
the shoe is fastened. The great value of
this arrangement will be apparent to all
Aside from the advantage of securing equal
and uniform bearing upon the parts of the
hoof which are designed to stand pressure,
the countersinking of the nails, is an item
of Importance in the wearing and frlnness
of the shoe. 1t saves the nail from posi-
bic contact with stones or the ground,
leaves the shoe thoroughly fastened to the
hoof while it lasts, and saves all necessity
for clipping the shoe either at the toe or
on the quarters. 1t, therefore, protects
the wall of the hoof instead of running it,
as the clipped shoe always does.
This Goodenough shoe will prove of the
greatest utility for use on the cavalry and
riding horse. 1t is so constructed that it
cannot become clogged with heavy soils in
the summer, or with snow in the winter );
there is no possibility of horses slipping
with it, as it presents more points Of con-
tact, and furnishes better hold on either
iced or slippery pavements than the COM
mon shoe !; and from its conformity to the
natural shape Of the foot, 10 horse can
overreach or interfere with it on, that
would not do so if barefooted The pecu-
liarities above mentioned. make this shoe
equally desirable for all other kinds of
work, and especially for the draft horse,
who needs a shoe allowing the utmost pos
sible traction to the ground. if | may use
the term.
r. In addition to the qualities mentioned,
the shoe possesses many others which
might be named, and which help to make
it the most perfect shoe | have ever SEEN
If it were once introduced into general
use, am sure that the old fashioned shoe
would thereafter be entirely discarded. l
do not hesitate to say that it's use would
prove a blessing to the horse, as it must
also prove great economy. So exactly is
it adapted to the horses foot, that, hen
on, it seems almost natural continuation
OF the h"of; and | can2ot conceive how
any horse need be famed, or suffer from
the diseases incident to bad shoes and bad
shoeiDg, if the Goodenough shoe were
worn and properly put ON.
While on this subject of the horse 5 foot.
| may as well suggest a point or two out
side of shoes and shoeing, which are worth
regarding. The diseases have named as
incident to bad shoeipg, are aggravated by
the manner in which horses are stabbed.
Every one has noticed that these diseases
affect the fore feet, legs and shoulders of the
horse, almost exclusively One reason for
this, is, that the fore feet are kept dry in
the stable, while the hind feet are mois-
tened by the animals manure and urine !;
and the latter have some chance to grow,
and keep comparatively healthy, in spite
of the butchering of the frogs and braces.
The manner in which horses are confined
in stables is simply barbarous. The noble
animal is not allowed the liberty of Gagged
tiger; but it is obliged to stand day and
night, when embarrassed, in one position,
and most frequently in stall where he
cannot lie down and rise again without
fianror of ctraininp Or other in;urx No