THE LOINS. 17 



outer covering called the crust, and a soft inner layer of 

 non-fibrous horn. The designations " wall " and " crust " 

 are often used indiscriminately. 



The frog is the triangular buffer which is in the middle 

 and rear part of the ground surface of the hoof. 



The cleft of the frog is the division in the middle line 

 of the frog. In healthy feet, it consists of only a slight 

 depression. 



The bars of the hoof are the portions of the wall of the 

 hoof which are turned inwards at the heels, and run more 

 or less parallel to the sides of the frog. 



The sole is that portion of the ground surface of the 

 hoof which is included between the wall, bars, and frog. 



Back (11). — Anatomically speaking, the back consists 

 of that portion of the spinal column to which the ribs are 

 attached, and it consequently includes the withers ; but 

 not the loins. The term " back " is, in common parlance, 

 an ill-defined region. Some regard it as consisting of the 

 whole of the upper line of the body, from, the front of the 

 withers to the root of the tail. Others would exclude 

 from this the croup. Probably, the majority* of horsemen 

 would say the back of a horse is included between the 

 highest point of the croup and the commencement of the 

 withers. For convenience sake I shall adopt the ana- 

 tomical definition, with the omission of the withers, which 

 have separate functions, and which I shall consider by 

 themselves. I may, therefore, state that the back is 

 the upper part of the trunk which is bounded in front 

 by the withers ; and behind, by the loins. 



The Loins (12) are placed between the back and 

 croup, with the flanks on each side. They include that 

 portion of the spinal column which is devoid of ribs, and 

 which is in front of the highest point {posterior iliac spine, 

 Fig. 18) of the pelvis. 



