THE WALK. 125 
«3. As to the anatomy of the foot. 
“ The foot is composed of the os pedis, os naviculare, and a small portion 
superiorly of the os corona. Between the alee of the os pedis we have the 
frog and the fibrous frog, in fact, a beautiful elastic cushion ; and postero- 
laterally the lateral cartilages, readily yielding on the application o1 
pressure. Seeing this arrangement, I naturally seek to find the cause of 
its existence, and I suggest that it is there in order, by coming in contact 
with the ground, first to break the concussive effect, likely, if being hard 
and unyielding as the formation at the toe, to be productive of much cost 
to the animal frame. 
“4, The progress of action is from the heel to the toe. For example, 
man, during progression, puts his heel to the ground first; the ox also 
places his heels similarly on the ground first, and dogs bring their pads in 
contact with the ground first ; does it not, then, seem undeniable, when 
reasoning by analogy, that the horse similarly brings his heels to the 
ground first ? 
“ During progression, the body moves forward ; during which movement 
the toe, as evident to every observer, leaves the ground last, that is, when 
the flexors are contracting. If such be the case, then, for the toe to come 
in contact with the ground first, as some affirm, and the heel last, is a 
retrograde and impossible movement. 
“Three principal impressions are made on the foot during progression, 
namely : 
“1, On the heel, when great expansion and yielding takes place, owing 
to the pressure on the frog, which is forced upwards, causing the ultimate 
expansion of the walls of the hoof, &e. 
“2. On the middle part of the foot, when the bones bear the weight of 
the body. The flexors and extensors being, for the instant, in a state of 
quietude, z.e. neither of them are extending or contracting, 
“3. On the toe, when the animal gives a push, by which an impetus is 
given to send the body forwards. 
“The foot comes on the ground nearly flat, I admit, but the heel is for 
an instant on the ground before the toe. 
“T humbly assert, in conclusion, that the progress of action is from the 
heel to the toe, and not from the toe to the heel.” 
It appears to me that argument is here thrown away, for as it is 
admitted by both sides that the toe and heel are each in certain cases 
placed on the ground first, it is manifest that either may be in all. 
Observation, therefore, and not theoretical argument, must determine 
under what circumstances the foot is deposited with its toe on the ground, 
and vice versd.. Mr. Spooner, and nearly the whole of the London school, 
say that the toe touches first in all cases but in the disease known as 
laminitis; Mr. Lupton, Mr. Gamgee, and the Edinburgh new school, 
assert, on the contrary, that, as a rule, the heel touches the ground a 
shade the first. Their assertions reach to all paces; but here I think a 
uistake is committed, for I am confident that in trotting the toe touches 
the ground slightly before the heel in a large proportion of cases. In the 
walk I am quite satisfied that Mr. Lupton and his followers are right, and 
that the heel is presented to the ground in all good walkers, but so slightly 
first as to escape the notice of careless observers. If the toe is not raised 
it is apt to tip the inequalities of the ground, and we have that disawreeable 
sensation of insecurity in the walk which a bad hack invariably gives 
Many horses go very close to the ground, but if the extensors turn the toe 
well up in bringing the leg forward, however closely to the ground it is 
