308 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part III. 



bone (d), the back sinew or great flexor tendon of the foot (e), the same tendon sliding over the 



navicular bone (/), its termination or insertion into the bottom of the coffin bone fe), the clastic 



matter of the sensible frog (/<), the insensible or horny frog (), 



the horny sole (k), which includes the parts of the sensible 



foot ; the outer wall of the hoof (/), the elastic processes (w), 



the attachment of the extensor tendon to the coffin bone (w), ana 



its attachment to the coronary bone (o), which completes the . 



section. 



5749. The coffin bone {.fig. 620 a) adapts itself to the form of the 

 lioof, or rather is adapted by nature to this eligible form. The 

 eminence in front receives the insertion of the tendon of the great 

 extensor muscle of the foot, whose upper attachment is to the 

 humerus or arm bone where it is fleshy, but as it passes onwards, 

 it becomes tendinous, expanding over every joint, both to prevent 

 friction, and to embrace and give attachments -to each bone, by 

 which a simultaneous movement of the whole limb is made. In 

 the hinder limb, this extensor and its two lesser adjuncts arise 

 from the tibia and in part from the femur. To the sides of the 

 coffin bone are attached the lateral cartilages, and around its 

 surface are marks of the attachment of the laminated substance. 



5750. The coronary or small pastern bone (c), articulates with 

 the coffin at its posterior part, and articulating also with both 



these is the navicular or nut bone (/), whose attachmei?ts to them are effected by ligaments, 



5751. The hoof is conical, or rather, as Clark observes," slightly truncated, and is a secretion as well from 

 the vascular parts of the foot as from the skin, as our nails are from the portion of skin called the quick. 

 The structure of the hoof is firm and fibrous ; externally plane and convex, but internally concave and 

 laminated. The quarters are the lateral parts. As the horn approaches the heels it becomes soft, and 

 -s reflected inwards. The heels are parted by the horny frog {Jig. 621 b), and without the frog on each 



side, the hoof inflects its fibres to form the 

 621 



which are seen on the under surface {fig 

 " " ' 622 



c). 



d- 



This 



In a healthy foot (^,iO-.621.) the heels are round, 

 wide and sniooth {a a), the frog fully expanded 

 {h), the bars or binders distinct (c), no corns 

 in the usual angle (rf), the sole broad, and con- 

 cave {d). In a diseased foot {fig. 622.), the 

 ^e heels are high and drawn together by con- 

 traction {a ), the frog narrow and filled with 

 "*~rf fissures from contraction and thrush {b), and 

 the sole greatly sliortened in its transverse dia- 

 meter which is morbidly counterbalanced by the 

 increased heights in the truncated form(c). When 

 the hoof is removed, the sensible or fleshy sole{fig. 

 620 k), above which it immediately lies, presents 

 itself, covering the whole of the horny sole, except so much as is taken up by the sensible frog {h), 

 part is exquisitely sensible and vascular, and thus we learn why injuries to it from punctures, produce such 

 serious effects ; and why very slight pressure from contraction of the hoof gives so much pain. The 

 sensible frog and the sensible sole form the insensible frog and sole ; but when from pressure, too much 

 moisture, or other causes, the sensible frog, instead of forming horn, secretes pus or matter as in thrush, 

 the structure of the whole becomes injured, and the horny frog, thus losing its support, gradually wastes and 

 decays. It is therefore evident that no thrush can be entirely harmless, as is erroneously supposed. Above 

 the sensible frog and sole, is the great flexor tendon, or back sinew, inserting itself into the vaulted 

 arch of the coffin, {fig. 620 e.) This important tendon arising from its parent muscle above the knee, whose 

 origin is taken from the humerus and ulna, in its passage unites with an assistant flexor, but which latter 

 is principally distributed to the pastern bones ; while the perforans, so called because it is perforated by 

 the assistant flexor tendon, is inserted into the vault of the coffin. In the posterior extremities the 

 attachments of these two leading flexors, and a smaller lateral one, are from the femur and tibia. 



5752. The sensible lamince. Around the surface of the coffin bone, it has been noticed that there are linear 

 indentations to which about five hundred semicartilaginous leaves are attached. Each of these is received 

 between two of the horny lamellte which line the interior of the horny hoof: and when it is considered 

 what a vast surface of attachment is formed by these means, the strength of the union will not be 

 wondered at. No violence can separate these parts, and their use, as so many springs to support the 

 actions of an animal, at once weighty, strong, and extremely agile, must be apparent. The vessels and 

 nerves of the foot are derived from the metacarpal arteries, veins, and nerves, which pass beliind the 

 pastern, when the main trunks divide to proceed to each side of the foot, and are ramified from thence 

 throughout. It is a division of the metacarpal nerve on each side of the lesser pastern, or of the larger, 

 as occasion suits, which forms the nerve operation, now in vogue as a remedy for founder. 



Sect. V. Of the Diseases of the Horse. 



5753. The diseases of the horse are as numerous and as important as his complicated 

 structure and the artificial state of his present mode of life would lead one to expect. 

 Until of late the treatment of these diseases was confined to the hands of ignorant farri- 

 ers, presumptive grooms, or shoeing smiths ; and the fate of the aniinals was commensu- 

 rate with the wretched treatment they were subjected to. The establishment of a 

 school for the veterinary art, has disseminated an improved practice, and spread im- 

 proved practitioners throughout the country ; and we would earnestly recommend an 

 application to one of established reputation in all cases of difficulty and danger. But 

 us it is not always that such a one is within reach, to enable the agriculturist to have in 

 his own hands the means of informing himself, Or of being a check on others, we sub- 

 mit a concise view of the diseases of the head, neck, trunk, and extremities, preceded 

 by some general observations. 



SuBSECT. 1. General Remarks on the healthy and diseased Slate of the Horse* 



5754. Condition of horses. Being in condition, in stable language, signifies not only perfect health in- 

 ternally, but such an appearance externally, as the philosopher would call 'unnatural, or at least artifi- 

 cial : while the amateur considers it as an essential requisite to the other qualities of the horse. This 

 external condition is denoted by a sleek, short, shining coat, with a degree of flesh neither bordering on 

 fatness, nor emaciation. Even in this sense of the term, condition must be varied according to the use* 



