Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-22


Who shoes horses by the "Charer method
don't know, nor who prepared this admirable
abstract of his plan, with hints according
to the exact nature Of the case-wthOut a
waste or nonsenslcal word | would gladly give
a workman on Charters plan little gratult-
GUS advertising. Or course the plan is new
and will make the heads of half our horse
shOers ache 10 think Of because it is new. am
afraid il 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 inlo 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 yUunr
horse is not spoiled Oy heavy shooting accoIdin.
to city methods before he goes 10 town.
" To this end he lower edle OF the superficial
crust Ton wall) only is cut away, the portion re-
moved beng rep aced by metallic rim, nrces-
sarilly more resisting than The Natural wall of
abe f1ot, but precisely the same IN form and
thickness as the substance removed. This metal
ed1ing or shoe lies embedded IN groove, made
by CHARTERS drawing knife, an instrument con-
structcd for the purpose by the Inventor, some
thing resembling the ordinary mOulding-plane
and which any shoeingsmith Can use. Thc shoe
thus let as 1t were, into tho foot becomes Il con
tiDuatioD OF the natural hOof to the tip OF the
toe, but not extending beyond 1t; and in nor
NAL shaped foot at once Tor IN weakly loot
after about three months duration of this plan
of shooting, and consequently 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 lett entire, soon becomes
thick and flexible, and assists 10 support the
body, forming, with its spongy upper cushion,
medium of elasticity to weaken tine
shocks upon the tenlous and the joints.
Its structure, too, soon resembles India
rubber, and it thus constitutes in the
hinder part Of the foot a natural elastic wedge
which expands, and keeps wide open
the heel. The frog also, when well developed,
fufls another Office besides strengthening the
bearing upon the grouu for it prevents the
horse nom slipping, acting like the pad under
the foot OF the camel, dog or cat This last
function is Of very great advantage, by securing
the safety of the rider, and is all important in
the paved streets or towns, when turning
sharply round corner, or in travelling over ice
With Charters shoe the sole Of the foot is never
touched, and the horn being permitted TO remain
in 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
IA good sound sole. All artificial means to pre-
vent the contact Of the sole with the ground
have turned out to belinjuliOus, caus NJ wasting,
soltcning aud disease more or less of the sensl-
ave portions of the foot The frog and the sole
moreover, appear to he more abundantly ST.
GREETED the more they are exposed 10 attriton,
and like the skin OF the hand OF the blacksmith,
or the foot Of the beggar boy who has never
worn shoe, get 10 be incredibly resisting and
capable Of being exposed to very hard and
rough usage"