436 HORSE-SHOEING 



like the fibres of the wall. The corresponding portion of the sensitive foot 

 presents hundreds of similar parallel projecting leaves of soft, velvety, 

 fibrous tissue. These are called the sensitive laminae, and in the living 

 foot are dovetailed between the horny laminse of the wall so as to afford 

 a firm, secure attachment between the two. The sensitive frog and sole 

 are firmly attached to the corresponding horny parts, but instead of plates 

 the connecting medium here is a mass of little papillae, so closely arranged 

 as to give a velvety appearance and feel to the exposed surface. This 

 sensitive layer, known to fari'iers as "the quick", is bountifully supplied 

 with nerves and blood-vessels. Just where the hair meets the horn — the 

 part called by horsemen the coronet — is a very important structure, seen 

 when the hoof is detached. This is a prominent ring or band extending 

 round the foot and covered with very large papillae. From it tlie wall 

 grows, and injuries to it are followed by serious defects in the horn. Not 

 only do such easily-recognized conditions as " sand-crack " and " false- 

 quarter" follow injuries to the coronet, but all the defective qualities of 

 horn, such as are found in dry, brittle hoofs, proceed from the coronet. So 

 also do the rings and irregularities often noticed on the front of the hoof. 



Growth of Hoof. — The wall grows downward from the coronet at 

 the rate of about an inch in three months. It is constantly growing, and 

 when protected from wear by a shoe, soon causes a disproportionate hoof. 

 If allowed to grow, it may even produce deformity. Remembering this, 

 horse-owners will understand how necessary it is that no shoes should be 

 worn more than about a month without the superfiuous growth of horn 

 being removed from the hoof Farm horses in idle seasons are often grossly 

 neglected by being forced to stand in shoes attached to hoofs so overgrown 

 as to place the foot quite out of its proper relative position to the limb. 



Young horses that have never been shod are often injured by being 

 allowed to run in yards or small soft pastures where the hoof is not 

 naturally worn down. Their feet become so overgrown and dispropor- 

 tionate that the limbs are injured and joints twisted permanently. Even 

 foals should be attended to by the ftirrier when their hoofs become over- 

 grown. No paring is necessary. All that is wanted is the removal of the 

 excess of wall with a rasp. This necessary attention would frequently 

 make all the diff'erence between good feet and limbs and Ijad ones. 



Cartilage. — It is unnecessary to enter more into detail as to the 

 anatomy of the foot. Within the sensitive layer just noticed are the 

 bones, and attached to them the tendons which move the limb in pro- 

 gression. There are two structures, however, which must be mentioned. 

 The chief bone of the foot — the coffin-bone — which gives the general form 

 to the hoof, does not extend throughout its whole interior. It forms the 



