Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-19


inflicted in the process of shoeing. Then,
over and above the mortality actually in
CURED from careless shoeing or pricking
of the hoof with nails, there is great
amount of suffering inflicted upon the
animals from the same cause, which
either throws the animal aside for time
from work, or entails costly treatment,
or very often both. Then the piercing
of the hoof so often as is necessary in
street horses with nails has the effect of
wastir & the wearing surface of the foot,
and thus imPairing its durability. Fur
thermore, there are many horses whose
feet are so shelly and brittle that it is a
matter of the greatest difficulty to keep
nailed shoes on them. In the event of
the shoes being removed from horses
that g. to grass the feet are frequently
damaged from having been riddled with
nails, while the replacement of the shoes
is often attended with intense pain and
suffering to the animals.
Further evidence might be given in
favor Of a shoe which could be affixed to
the foot without nails, The utility of
the nailess shoe, shown I'm the annexed
cuts, as a shoe for harness and army
horses, has, according to Mark Lane Ex-
press, been proven, while it is claimed
that its extension to every class of
horses in the country is simply matter
of adaptation" The diagrams of the
shoe Indicate not only the formation of
the shoe itself, but the manner in which
it is affixed to the hoof.
On reference to these, it will be seen
that a the toe of the shoe is piece of
steel called the front pillar. This can be
tapped SO as to form any angle with the
inside surface of the shoe, in order to
adapt it to the shape of the hoof, against
which it fits closely, as represented in
the illustration of the side view. In the
diagram of the shoe, there is at the toe,
behind the front pillar, a small piece of
steel, which fits into small groove made
in the foot to receive it. In the event,
however of the horse suffering from
''seedy toe" this piece of steel is done
away with, and two diagonal studs, set
at opposite angles on each side of the toe.
are Sill ostituted; and as this alternative
plan il Just as etfectual in every way. it
can be adopted with all horses instead of
the toe pieces if preferred. Beyond this
very slight groove the hoof requires no
preparation whatever
At the heel of the shoe there were
originally heel pillars, as shown in the
illustration of the side view; but in the
latest patterns these pillars are abolished,
and tie substitute, while equally effica-
cious, is smaller. To this heel pillar, or
its substitute, is fastened the steel band,
shown in the side view illustration. and
which, when i'll place, runs parallel to
the top of the hoof round it, and joins on
to the top of the front pillar Originally
the band was made in two halves, as de
picted in the front view diagram; but
now the band is continuous from one
heel to the other, and to the top of the
front pillar third prong is added, over
which the loop in the middle of the band
slips. To fix the shoe, it is only neces-
sary raise the horses foot, place the
shoe il position, pass the band round.
and slip the loop in the center over the
prong of toe front pillar, and all is taut
Now when the shoe is fixed. as shown
in the illustration, it cannot shift for
ward because of the opposition of the
toe studs and front pillar; it cannot
work back on account of the toe studs
and the band; while it cannot drop off
because of the band and front pillar
The band, it may be observed, fits round
the smallest portion of the hoof, and
therefore cannot get below a certain
point; hence the support given by it to
the shoe. No part of the hoof is com