The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-07-08
I0Ny TO shoe II Horse.

In paper recently read before the
london Society of Arts, by Mr. George
Fleming, Veterinary Surgeon. the
author gives his views on horse shoe
ing, rs follows:
To shoe a horse properly, if we take
Natures plans into consideration, it is
not very difficult, and neither need it
be very expensive one. Our object
should be TO protect the hoof from
wcar-nothing more; and in doing SC
we ought to maintain the integrity and
soundness of the hoof, while we do not
ovcrburden or disturb the natural
direction of the foot and limb: and, as
"A secondary object, we should mcrese
the animals foOthOld on the ground, il
possible. The first object is attained
by leaving the sole, frogs and bars in
their natural condition; as | have
already explained that when they have
acquired certain thickness the outer
surface falls off in flakes Of dead horn,
50 that they viii never become toe
thick.
1t is different with the wall, which
would grow to an indefinite length, be-
cause it is not thrown off in flakes, and
the shoe prevents 1t from being worn.
This, therefore, every time the horse il
shod, has to be reduced in length at It's
lower border, to a degree corresponding
to the growth which has taken place
since the previous shoeing; and the
manner IN which this is done, as well as
the extent, constitutes, in my opinion.
the chief test of the farrier's skill. If
the wall Is too much reduced generally,
injury viii follow; If too much at the
toe or front, the heels will be unnatural
" high, and this viii alter the animal s
gait, particularly the fore feet, and
make Its PAGES uncomfortable To the
rider: If too much at the back part of
the heels, it throws the unnatural strains
on the fetlocks and some other Joints;
and if one side Is lowered more than
another, it leads to twisting OF the
limbs and strains the lateral hga-
ments of the joints All these can
he avoided by the skillful artisan; and
vet, strange to say, the normal position
or direction of the limb and foot are
seldom taken into consideration, and
we see numbers of horses of all descrip-
tons with these more or less crooked in
consequence.
The unmutilated hoof only requires
rs much iron as VIII protect the lower
border OF its wall, say for a month OF
SIX weeks, and ensure security OF foot
hold, nothing more, and all beyond
this Is loss and injury; while, If posi-
BILE, the sole and frog should be rllowed
10 play their part. \ shoe. and meth
Cd Of shooting, which admirably answer
these ends, is that introduced some
years ago by NJ. Charlier, Partisan
veterinary surgeon. 4 narrow rim OF
iron Is imbedded in recess formed by
removing the wall only, to a certain
depth of its lower border; the iron, in
fact, takes the place of the removed
wall, and is retained securely by a small
number of very small nails. The first,
believe, TO try thls method of shoeine
IN this country, / have continued its
use, but IN q modified form, mp to the
present time, aud can affirm that it is,
for many horses, the best method OF
shoeing known. Ii principle it is foand.
Cd on a sound physiological basis, and
III practice [ can testify to its great util-
ity.
My modification consists in having
only short rim of metal passing round
about two-thlrds of the wall. and en-.
bedded on a level with the sole. leaviuo
that and the frog 10 reach the ground,
and the heels free of iron. in all re.
spects, as if the feet were IN an unshod
state. The rim weighs abOu, oue-thirC
Of the common shoe, ana is retained
firmly IN position by only four of tn,
very smallest nails, and yet 1t wear