In M. Bouley's writings we find excellent principles laid down with regard to shoeing, though he recommends a certain amount of paring of the sole. M. Goyau's little treatise is, perhaps, the best practical work on shoeing that has appeared in France; while M. Megnin's is remarkable for the great research and ability displayed in investigating the history of French farriery.
In 1840, M. Riquet, a veterinary surgeon of some repute, introduced what he termed a 'podometrical' method of shoeing.[1] We have already casually intimated that, from the time when the improvement of fitting shoes hot to the hoofs was introduced, a few amateurs and professional men fancied that injury was done to the horse's foot. In rare cases this was the case, no doubt; for the custom of paring the sole almost to the quick was so prevalent, that we cannot wonder if a careless workman did now and again retain the hot shoe long enough against the lower margin of the crust, to permit the border of the sensitive sole to suffer from the high temperature in its vicinity. These accidents, however, appear to have been remarkably unfrequent, if we may judge from their being so seldom alluded to.
The idea prevailed to some extent, nevertheless, that hot fitting was hurtful, and it was to guard against its effects that the foot-measure shoeing was introduced. The instrument contrived to note the dimensions of the foot was ingenious, though defective, and the system altogether was so well conceived that it attained a large amount of popularity in a short time. The size, though not the shape, of
- ↑ De la Ferrure Podométrique. Tours, 1840.
