The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-05-16
VOLUME 42.
Horse Shoeing.

Who shoes horses by the "Charlier
method" [ don't know, nor who made this
admirable abstract of his plan, with hints
according to the exact nature of the case
without a waste or nOnSenSical word.
would gladly give workman on Charlier's
| plan little gratuitOus advertising. OF
| course the plan Is new and will make the
heads OF half our horse ShOers ache to
| think of, because 1t is new. | am afraid it
is more adapted to the needs of the farmer
and countryman than to city hack, truck
and railway horses. For the sutferings of
| those miSerables there seems little chance
OF alienation. They are put into business
Ike wagons to wear out. Their owners
know what they cost and make out their
bills OF expense accordingly. Yet farmers
may See that young horse is not spoiled
by heavy shoeing according to city methods
before he goes to town.
10 this end the lower edge OF the super
fetal crust COR wall) only is cut away, the
portion removed being replaced by metal
lic rim, necessarily more resisting than the
natural wall of the foot, hut precisely the
same III form and thickness as the substance
removed. This metal edging or shoe lies
embedded IN groove, made by Charlier's
drawing knife, an instrument constructed
for the purpose bv the inventor, something
resembling the ordinary moulding plane,
and which any Shoein gsmth can use The
shoe thus let, as 1t We're, into the foot be
comes continuation of the natural hoof to
the tip OF the toe, but not extending bevond
1t; and In a normal shaped foot at once cor
ID a weakly foot after about three months
duration OF this plan of shoeing, and con
sequenty free growth of horn) lies level
With the sole and frog. both of which are
thus permitted to come into direct contact
with the ground The frog is never pared,
and, being left entire, soon becomes thick
and flexible, and assists to suppor. the BODY
forming, with its spongy upper cushion Il
medium OF elasticity to weaken the shocks
upon the tendons and the Joints. It's struc-
ture, too, soon resembles India rubber and
1t thus constitutes in the hinder part of the
foot natural elastic wedge, which expands,
and keeps wide open the heel. The frog
Also when well developed, fultils another
office besides strengthening the bearing up
on the ground, for it prevents 1he horse
from slipping, acting like the pad uader the
loot OF the camel, dog or cat. This last
function Is OF very great adv lntage, BY Sc
curing the safety Of tie rider, and is all
important IN the paved streets or towns
when turning sharply round a corner, or in
travelling over ice. With Chariier'S shot.
the sole OF the foot is never touched and
the horn beng permitted to remain iii its
normal state, grows freely, and is always
healthy and strong, for from bearing upOn
the ground it becomes hard and thick, and
able TO resist contact with the sharpest
stones Thus is obtained that real cover
for the foot so desirable good sound sole
All artificial means to prevent the contact
OF the sole with the ground have turned
out to be injurious, causing wasting, soften
Ing and disease more or less of the sensi-
tive portions of the foot. The frog aud the
sole moreover, appear to be more abund-
anty secreted the more they are exposed
to attrltlon, and like the skin of the hand of
the blacksmith, or the foot Of the beggar
boy who has never Worn shoe, get to be
incredibly resisting, and capable Of being
exposed to very hard and rough usage"
| Hartford Courant.