The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-01-08
HORSESH0ES.
Doubt as to What Nation and Age
First Used Them.

Horseshoes were not known to
the ancients, and there is much
doubt as to what nation and age
first used them. An authority on
the subject says: "The first kind of
shoe known was not shoe at all.
1t was species of sock, often made
with woven or plated hemp. Cam
els in ancient warfare were thus
shod, and so were mules and horses
when their hoofs were hurt. In
time of heavy snow these socks were
necessary to prevent the horses
from sinking up to their girths in
the snow, according to an old
writer. Similar socks are used by
the Russians in Kamchatka for
their sledge dogs, and this kind is
provided with little holes for the
claws. Horse soles were also made
of woven broom, reeds and bast
strapped on, such as are still used
in Japan, where they are made by
the children, who wait about the
roads offering them for sale at low
figure. The next step made by the
old Romans and Greeks seems to
have been the manufacture of
leather soles and shoes. But the
great drawback to all these hoof
protectors was the CALLING of the
straps, and they were really only
of substantial use in the case of
baggage animals or when the road
was rough and dangerous. Delays
were often occasioned by the shoes
sticking in the mud and letting the
horse go on in front.
so the old mule doctors had to
devise means of hardening horses
hoofs. One advised stone slabs
fastened with iron clamps TO the
ground which formed the stable,
another recommended oak flooring,
while vet another prescribed the
smearing of the bottom of the feet
of draft animals with pitch. The
exact date when metal shoes were
first brought out is not known, but
it is said that Nero had the mules
attached to 1000 carriages shod
with silver sandals, while Poppaea's
mules were gold shod. These may
he the hipposandals which have
been found wherever the Romans
settled-in Germany, France and
England. The form Of the hippo
sandal varies. The commonest shape
is an oval plate of metal drawn out
backward on both sides and in some
cases fitted With a curved hook.
There are wings to the sides, and in
front they are furnished with eyes
and rings. Another kind is dis
tinguished by the bending upward
of the sides in front and behind,
suggesting to the eye the form Of an
ancient galley. They we're fixed to
the hoofs by straps passed through
clips and rings.
"French ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS think
that the Celts were the first to use
nailed on shoes before the Christian
era and that they popularized their
use throughout Gaul, Germany and
England. Many shoes have been
found in graves, the favorite horse:
having been slain and buried with
their masters in accordance with
primitive beliefs as to the hereafter
Between the French towns Of Ian
gres and Dion, near the spot where
Caesar encamped his army at thu
siege Of Alesia (B. c. 52), small
fullered shoes have been found at
depth Of two or three feet in tht
ground. Some have nails in thu
shape Of q Roman T and are pro
vided with clinches. Others ascribeC
by biologists to the sixth centur,
have been found in the Bernes'
Jura. All these had six large. rount
nail holes, and opposite to each hol,
the border OF the shoe il sca!loped
. Some shoes had heels and some ha'
/ not. But the heels we're hardly o
any size and. moreover, lacke
strength. "-Chicago News.