, 1873-01-15
THE FIELD AND STABLE.
selR-Sf1arpc cninE Call8ills--ScrntcAcs.
From Our Olc4s Correspondent.
MANHA1TAN, KAn., Jan, 10. 1879,

SGl&-3M&AfRtA111Afx NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
From Our 0lcss Correspondent.
MANHAIrAN, Kun, Jan. 10, 1879,
BHA1tp CALK1Ns.
Jnck Frost has assumed his reign again ; tho
roads aro covered with Hnow and lco and tho
time hns como in which tho shoes Of horscB haye
to bo provided with sharp calkinB, or oorka. It
ia really tho haryest-time Of the horso-aLoers,
for cslkins sharpened to-day arc frequently dull
again tomorrow, OF at least within fow days.
and then tho horse hns to bo taken to the blacl1-
nmith-shop again. The blacksmith, Of oourae
has no objections ; but the owner Of tho horse
l1as, for lo loses time and money, or else has
to risk tho nook and limbs Of hH animal; or,
under circumstances, ovon hia own. Still, ouch
a repeated sharpening OF tho calkinB, and conBe-
qncutly such frequent and otherwise unneces-
sary reBatting Of tho shoes, can be avoided alto
gether by inserting thin piece Of steel into the
contre Of each calkin, for then the wearing or
itself will keep them sharp. A horseshoe with
such aelt-sharpening ca)kinB can be prepared
very easily in the following why: 4 common
horseshoe, with common corkB, or calknB, at
tached to it, such Rs arc gonorally used in other
seasons, may bo taken; each calkin be aplit in
the centro clear to . level with tho shoe
proper; piece Of good steel, as thick
as the blade Of q kuife, and
as wide as the caikin, DO put nnd welded into the
split; and thon the calkiu has to DO sharpenod
II such way that tho staol in the centre con-
stitutes tho sharp edge. After that las been
done, and eftor tho shoe has boon fitted to tho
foo, tho shoe should alwnya DO fitted to the
]loof, and not tho hoof to tho shQe, as Is often
done, tho calkius may bo hardonod aud the shoes
be nailed on. The hardened steel in tho contros
will wear oil much slower than the comparative
" soft iron which constitutes tho Bido Of the CALI
ins consequently the latter will 10 solfsharpon-
ing, and will remain Rharp until almost worn OF
to d level.
know very great many horao-shoers will
object to this method Of making calxns,-not
30 much on account Of the additional labor, but
because thoykuow that n horHo sLol iu TINT
way will not nced to 10 taken to tho blacksmith
shop oyory few daya. Still, If ono blacksmith
refuses, another will consent and ! am confi-
don't tint those readers Of "Iho Field and
Stable " who give tho Rolf-ehsyponing cnlkins
tral will bet, be saiaod oven @ # they should haze
additional work required. I will yet remark
that there Is no danger Of infringing upon q
patont by using those calkins, for they mover
have been patented.
Scratches-as have had repeated occasions
to remark In these columns-aro n child Of neg
lect, and aro much casicr prevented than cured,
though oven cure Is not conneotcd with any
particular alncnlty. IAe leea ahu pastofha OK
l.orseB neoa careful cleaning vt any season Of the
year, but especially in tho latter .part Of wintor
melting, and when the roadA ara covered With
dirty aud ice-oold water, md with an abundance
Of mud.
At preaent tho ground, almost everywhere, il
covered with Rnow; but, eoo,or, Or later, Tho
Same will molt and then the Boason Of Scratches,
and so-called Grease, will make itA appearance,
nnloss tile legs and paaterns Of those horses
that are used on the road are cleaned with tho
greateat care, ut least once day. III. those
caaoB, however, in which Scratches should make
their appearance, exact cleaning, aud a fow ap-
plleations Of mixture Of one part Of the tluid
su1acetato of lead with three parts Of puro olive
oll will coon effect cure, provided tho Scratches
haye not yet logeneratod the skin.
VETERINARIANS.