THE SENSITIVE LAMELLJ5. 427 



blood-vessels, which constitute the bulk of this substance, and 

 which are supported by the cartilaginous part, and covered by 

 the third part of the structure, which is the cuti«ular (resem- 

 bling cuticle, or skin,) covering. 



This coronary substance is more abundantly supplied with 

 blood-vessels than any other part of the body. The greatest care 

 seems to have been taken to protect it, so that it might be unin- 

 terruptedly supplied with blood, from wdiicli the wall is secreted. 



THE SENSITIVE LAMELLAE 



Is derived from, or is a continuation of, the coronary sub- 

 stance; it descends from its lower border on the coffin-bone 

 and its appendages, the lateral cartilages, to the groove 

 formed by the union of the wall of the hoof and sole. But 

 as this surface is much less in circumference than the length 

 of the coronary substance, this membrane is gathered into 

 hundreds of little plaits, or folds, running from the coronary 

 substance, where it originates, to its lower border near the 

 groove before spoken of, and where it unites with the sensi- 

 tive sole. These little plaits, or folds, are the sensitive lamellce. 

 Each lamella is, therefore, composed of a plait of this mem- 

 brane ; that is, of two thicknesses of it. The breadth of the 

 lamella is one-tenth of an inch, and about as thick as com- 

 mon paper. The length varies with the situation, being 

 longest where they pass down the coffin-bone, and getting 

 shorter to^yard the posterior, or back, part. The sensitive 

 lamellae are received into the spaces between the horny 

 lamelhc, which line the inside of the wall of the hoof, as be- 

 fore described. The number of sensitive lamella3 have been 

 estimated at from five to six hundred. 



They are highly organized, though not so well supplied with 

 blood-vessels as the sensitive sole, or sensitive frog. They 

 are supplied with blood for their own nutrition. . 



They have been represented by some writers as possessing 

 a wonderful degree of elasticity. But this is erroneous, though 



