shaped, generally elliptically, and was put on the foot red-hot; the result was what might be expected-the functions of the bars and frog were destroyed, and the ill-shaped shoe acting with these, contraction in its worst form appeared, while the application of the hot shoe dried up the moisture of the crust

The first who made any reformation in this method was Lafosse: he introduced the half-moon shoe. This was a material improvement; its semicircular shape was more adapted to the healthy hoof, and not reaching beyond the middle of the foot, the nails were placed near the toe; hitherto their situation had been nearer the heels, which prevented a proper action of the sole and frog, and thus destroying the natural spring and elasticity of the foot.

Bracken and Bartlet made Lafosse's treatise known in England, but his method had this disadvantage, that in the canter the horses were apt to slip, and the heels were worn down very fast.

To Lafosse succeeded William Osmer, who first prohibited the extensive paring of the hoof that had as yet been practised. The crust was made smooth by rasping; the frog and bars were only to be cut where the edges were ragged: the shoe was equally thick in every part; the surface next the ground was flat, but narrower behind than before.

Many now appeared who introduced various methods of shoeing and forms of shoes, all of which displayed more or less ingenuity. Lord Pembroke and Mr. Bracey Clark deserve mention. The Veterinary College threw out many hints and improvements, and Mr. Coleman laboured much to extend the knowledge already obtained.

Mr. Clark's shoe did not materially differ from that recommended by Osmer: he raised many objections

against elevating the heels with calkins, preferring an ice-nail, admitting, however, that sharp calkins were oftentimes used judiciously in hilly countries.

Lord Pembroke urged the necessity of the shoe being narrower at the heel than elsewhere, which prevented stones or other injurious weapons lodging in the foot, and by its pressure causing lameness; that it should be as light as possible, but not thin as to bend, which would depend upon the quality of the iron; that both surfaces of the shoe should be flat; and that three, and at the most four nails, were sufficient; these were placed at the side; the toe was cut square and short; the fore and hinder-feet are to be shod alike, except when the ground is hilly, when the shoes of the hinderfeet must be a little turned up behind. Farriers who are too lazy to make the shoe fit the foot, but place it on hot, deserve the severest censure.

Mr. Lawrence speaks in favour of the French method of driving the nails into shoes, which is in an oblique direction, so that the points come out about three-quarters of an inch above the shoe; by this method it is held firmer than by the English method, which is to drive the nail as high as possible up the wall, and this leaves but a small portion to clench and secure the shoe.

The preparation of the foot, and the operation of shoeing, should be performed as follows:

1. In taking off the old shoe it is always necessary, (although seldom done,) to raise the clenched portion of the nails, for by such neglect the nail-holes become considerably enlarged, and not unfrequently pieces of the crust are torn off; this must naturally weaken the hold of the new nails, and perhaps injure the foot in other ways.

2. The edges of the crust must then be rasped to

ascertain whether any stubbs remain behind; this process will likewise remove the dirt and gravel.

3. Paring is the next process, and perhaps the most difficult. The quantity to be cut away will vary with different horses. The flat foot needs very little paring; in the concave foot the horn may be cut till the sole yields to moderate pressure; in the pomied foot remove only the ragged edges; the strong foot will bear more cutting than any other. The buttress should seldom, or never, be used; great damage has been done by the use of that instrument: over the drawingknife the operator has a proper and necessary command, and can use it to what extent he thinks fit.

A sufficient quantity of horn should be left on the sole to protect the internal parts from being bruised, and yet allow the external sole to descend: the pressure of the thumb will determine this, and when the sole yields in the slightest degree that part should be left.

The crust must be level all round, and a degree higher than the sole.

The heels must be pared according to the wear they have sustained, and should always be perfectly level.

The bars should be left prominent, and scarcely touched, unless it is of the same level with the crust; this must be especially observed if the bars are weak. That portion between the crust and bar should be pared very carefully.

The frog must be cut away according to the shape and prominence of the foot, but it must project so much as to be left within and above the lower surface of the shoe; descending lower than this, it will be injured, and if it be allowed to remain higher, it will not touch the ground, and its intention is thus rendered abortive, and its functions cannot be discharged.

4. For a perfect hoof, the shoe should not be more than three-quarters of an inch broad, and of the same thickness at the heel as at the toe.

5. The shoe should never be put on hot, consequently pattern-shoes should be made for a good foot and a valuable horse.

6. The English system of "fullering," or making a furrow all round the lower surface of the shoe, to admit the heads of the nails to a level with it, should be laid aside. The French method of making holes with a punch of sufficient size to bury the head of the nails, is preferable.

7. The saddle-horse requires the shoe and nails to weigh from 12 to 14 ounces; the coach-horse from 16 to 20 ounces.

8. The hinder differs from the fore-foot in being straighter at the quarters; the shoe must be framed accordingly.

9. No horse should be allowed to wear the same shoes longer than a month.

10. The bar-shoe, which is often called into use when the foot is affected with corns, sandcrack, &c., or in cases of pumiced feet, should never be worn for more than one or two shoeings, or longer than the disease requires. They are very unsafe in frosty weather.

11. The most important object to be borne in mind is the treatment of the foot at the time of shoeing, and one inflexible rule should be strictly adhered to, viz., never to permit the blacksmith to shape the foot to the shoe, but to oblige him to shape the shoe to the foot, nor to suffer him to cut away more of the hoof than would naturally be worn away were the animal in a state of nature."

ON VICE.

ALTHOUGH the horse has long been subjected to the use of man, and in his domesticated state exhibits many noble and excellent qualities, yet some few are, nevertheless, addicted to many unpleasant and at times dangerous habits or tricks, which are denominated Vices. Many of these, however, originate in the carelessness or wanton disposition of the grooms, or stable-boys, who will be found wilfully teasing the horse at the expense of his temper and comfort. Some vices, however, are innate, and these are not readily dismissed; others again are the effect of playfulness.

They may be classed as follows:-Restiveness— Rearing Kicking-Jibbing-Biting-Running away -Shying. To these might be added many more, of which mention shall be inade under a general head in the course of the treatise.

Restiveness is a vice the most disagreeable and dangerous to which the rider can be exposed. A horse given to it can never be depended on. It is doubtless the seeds of a bad education, and though efforts the most persevering be practised, the animal may be tranquilised for the moment, but a cure can never be wholly wrought; indeed, Mr. Youatt, and several other writers agree, that, generally little wisdom is evinced, nor can any regard for safety exist with him who attempts to master an obstinately-vicious or restive horse.

Rearing results from many causes, but must more frequently be attributed to vice than playfulness. In weak horses it is very dangerous, as they are apt to fall backwards, to the imminent peril of the best riders. When it arises from a tender mouth, the remedy is