538 ART OF SHOEING. 



running in such variously assigned directions, as to confer 

 the greatest possible strength, with the most perfectly 

 adapted resiliency to the whole foot. 



The coffin bone is the broad arched structure with which 

 all the yielding parts are connected, and with which all their 

 functions are blended. We may refer to the fact, that the 

 coffin bone is the most important of any one in the skeleton 

 of the horse for the veterinarian to become acquainted with 

 thoroughly, owing to its elaborate construction, and owing to 

 the very important functions with which it is endowed, and 

 through its being more than any other exposed to injuries ; 

 yet, strange to say, just as complications prevail, so relatively 

 is the bone little understood. 



Much that is bad in the customary practice of shoeing, 

 and equally irrational in the treatment of horses' feet in 

 every way, is due to wrong notions being entertained on the 

 form of the coffin bone, and respecting its most obvious in- 

 dividual and relative functions. More than fifty years ago 

 the description given of the coffin bone by our authori- 

 ties, was that of a deformed and diseased bone, instead of 

 one of normal condition, and it is very probable, for we 

 have some evidence in the affirmative to show, that one 

 single bone accidentally falling into the hands of a clever 

 writer led to widespread erroneous notions regarding it, 

 which have gone uncorrected ; hence, become and continued 

 to be a source of growing misunderstanding on the character 

 of the key structure of the whole foot. 



The coffin bone is commonly described as being relieved 

 from the plain line at its front and posterior extremities; 

 nothing, however, is further from the truth than such 

 description, as it is only when the bone has become absorbed 

 in parts, through pressure, which, unfortunately for owners 

 and suffering horses, is a most common occurrence, that the 



