^162 On the General Treatment of the Feet. 



the intentions of nature, and consequently be absurd. Further, i£ 

 has long been well and generally ur.derstood, that when the Hoofs of 

 Horses become hot, dry, and flinty, and when the crust has so 

 far lost its natural toughness as that the driving of the nails occasions 

 it to splinter, then, turning such Horses out to grass, is the only re- 

 medy for these capital evils. But, it must be evident to every one, 

 who will take the trouble to consider the subject, that nearly all the 

 benefit resulting from the application of grass to Feet so diseased, 

 must arise from the water with which it is moistened ; although, 

 something, no doubt, must be placed .to the account of the elasticity 

 and coolness of the cushion which it furnishes, to the inflamed sensi- 

 ble laminae of the coffin bone. 



It is true, indeed, that many of the parts of animals which pos- 

 sess the property of elasticity in a high degree, are but sparingly- 

 supplied with blood vessels, as for instance the Cartilages and Liga- 

 ments, and more especially, that highly elastic Ligament which is 

 found in the neck of Graminivorous Animals, and which contributes 

 in so remarkable a manner, to support the weight of the head, in the 

 act of grazing. But the two thousand elastic fibres, called sensible 

 Laminae, which are attached to the Coffin Bones and Cartilages of 

 the Horse's Feet (there being about five hundred to each Foot) are 

 supplied with millions of blood-vessels, which are spread upon them, 

 for the purpose of furnishing from the blood, the horny fibres, with 

 which the sensible fibres are strongly united. 



Wh^n, therefore, we consider the structure of the beautiful me- 

 chanism, which is exhibited within the hoof, all wonder must cease 

 at the effects which long-continued and severe exercise has upon these 

 eLgtic sensible fibres, which are attached to the coffin bone. We see 



