ART OF SHOEING. 537 



centrating their inquiries on the part specially, after the whole 

 has received the ordinary share of attention. The same 

 argument, however, applies to all knowledge, and if nobody 

 ventured to learn any abstract truths, because opportunity 

 was wanting to go into the whole length and depth of the 

 matter, in such a case the world would be in a miserable 

 state of ignorance. Now the difference between the few 

 scientific men and the many of the world in the knowledge 

 they possess, is one of degree only, and the more exact and 

 extended the knowledge of the latter is, so relatively will 

 these push their pioneers onwards, and furnish recruits to 

 their ranks. 



Having, in recently published papers already referred to, 

 treated on the foot of the horse functionally and physio- 

 logically, in which way it must be studied and regarded 

 from the knee and hock inclusive, in fore and hind limbs 

 respectively ; and having entered at length on some of the 

 most important details of these phenomena, I shall not 

 trespass on the reader's time by inviting him to follow me 

 over the same ground again in this place, but shall limit my 

 observations to the foot as it is popularly recognised by prac- 

 tical horsemen and horse-shoers. 



It has been already said that that complex organ, the foot, 

 is endowed, like every part of the animal frame, with its 

 bony structure, and furthermore with an outer supporting 

 one composed of horn, called the hoof. Thus limiting the 

 sphere of inquiry, we cannot lightly pass over these struc- 

 tures and their relations. 



On the right understanding of the economy of this two- 

 fold solid construction, greatly depends the capacity for ap- 

 preciating the functions of the foot. 



Other phenomena, of the kind noticed, make up the mar- 

 vellous combination of pliable structures which are found 



