530 ART OF SHOEING. 



animals that lack it, though amply protected as they are, can- 

 not sustain weight and undergo the same fatigue on the same 

 soil as those which possess it; and of the animals gifted with 

 hoofs, the horse is superior to them all. 



The hoof must be studied in reference to its construction 

 and economy as the index to the development, condition, and 

 health of structures beneath it, standing in relation as it 

 does to these parts the same as the skin does with the struc- 

 tures it covers. 



The horse's hoof is commonly regarded as a secondary 

 structure, a something that may be cut away to ascertain 

 the condition of parts under it, not understanding the fact, 

 that when such exploration has been perpetrated, the nor- 

 mal condition of the whole foot is interfered with for many 

 months afterwards. If a medical man examines the limbs of 

 a man, he is thoroughly cognizant of the health or otherwise 

 of the whole structure by the condition of the skin, and so 

 should the veterinary surgeon be with regard to the horse's 

 foot, by taking the hoof especially for his chief guidance; 

 the organs of vision and touch being fully adequate to fur- 

 nish the mind with data, when to the rest the horse's action 

 is taken into account. When the questions bearing on the 

 above phenomena are satisfactorily solved, it will readily be 

 admitted that the hoof is a most important structure for its 

 own particular part in the whole economy of the foot, and 

 that it must be maintained in its duly proportionate form, 

 with its natural density, whence comes elasticity, and strength 

 to sustain weight, and maintain its required form. 



In describing the bones of the horse's foot, whilst limitr 

 ing our observations according to the scope of this essay, 

 there are only three which come under our notice. These 

 are, first, the coronet bone, the foot or coffin bone, and the 

 navicular bone. By the connection of these, the coffin joint 



