THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 53 



are situated at the back part of the foot. From the heel is a process 

 of hoof, which looks like a bar, passing- forward between the frog- 

 and the sole of the foot ; this can be seen plainly by raising- up the 

 horse's foot. There is one of these at each side of the frog, 

 and they act as a brace to the heel and the quarters of 

 the wall ; these are called the bars. Covering the outside 

 of the wall is a fine membrane which gives the hoof the 

 polished appearance ; this is called the periople. This can be best 

 seen when a horse's hoof is well washed off, as it is after 

 travelling through wet grass, which gives the hoof a shining 

 appearance. The use of this membrane is to keep the moisture in 

 the hoof and protect it from water. This is a point of importance 

 in connection with shoeing horses, as it is very injurious to file the 

 wall too much. Around the top part of the wall, where it unites 

 witli the skin, is found a groove which contains a white band, 

 called the coronary substance, or band. The use of this is tc 

 nourish the wall of the hoof, or, in other words, it is from this the 

 wall of the hoof grows. The under part of the wall, or the part 

 which rests on the ground in the unshod animal, or the part tc 

 which the shoe is nailed in the shod animal, is called the spread of 

 the foot. On the inside of the wall, attaching it to the bone of 

 the foot called the os pedis, is the part called the quick, or sensitive 

 laminae. This is a point of importance in connection with driving 

 nails in shoeing, so as not to drive the nail into this membrane or 

 even press on it, for it is very sensitive. When a nail has been 

 driven in so as to injure this membrane it is the common expres- 

 sion, "you have pricked that horse's foot." 



The Sole is a thick plate of horn which helps to form the 

 under part of the hoof. It is situated between the inner border of 

 the under part of the wall already mentioned and the front of the 

 frog. The under part of the sole is concave, or hollowed out ; 

 the upper part of the sole is attached to the under part of the 

 OS pedis bone, or bone of the foot, by a membrane called the quick, 

 ■or sensitive sole — this membrane is just a continuation of the 

 sensitive laminse. The outer part of the sole is attached to the 

 inner part of the wall. When pared down a white ring is seen 

 where the sole and the wall is united. At the back part of the 

 sole there is a notch the shape of the letter V ; in thi.'i notch the 

 frog is situated. An important point to remember ii; shoeing is 

 never to let the shoe rest on any part oi' the sole, and, also it is 



