ANATOMY OF THE HORSE'S FOOT. 



13 



more than an insensible block of horn which they may- 

 carve and mutilate with impunity and as suits their fancy, 

 and for which nothing more is necessary than the attach- 

 ment, by an unreasonable number of nails, of a clumsy 

 mass of iron that may not only be unsuitable for its re- 

 quirements, but positively injurious to it and the other 

 parts of the limb. The art of farriery in this country has 

 never received a scientific development, but has ever been 

 a mere affair of routine and tradition. Such should not 

 be the case ; and allusion is only made to this matter here 

 in order to urge most strenuously the necessity for far- 

 riers being properly instructed in the elements of their 



Tig. 1.— Section of the Horse's Foot.— a a, Skin of leg: bbb, extensor tendon of 

 foot; c, its insertion into the foot-bone; d d, capsular ligament of joints; d' d', 

 flexor tendon of foot inserted into sole of foot-bone (s) ; e e, flexor tendon of pastern 

 inserted at / into the small pastern bone, i ; g, shank or large metacarpal bone ; h, 

 large pastern bone; 7c, navicular bone; Z, foot or pedal bone; m, ligaments of na- 

 vicular bone connected with deep flexor tendon ; n, sensitive laminae, dovetailing 

 with horny lamina?, ri ; o, plantar cushion ; p, coronary cushion ; q, horny frog; r, 

 wall of hoof ; t, sensitive membrane of frog and sole ; u, the face of the navicular 

 bone over which the flexor tendon plays— the seat of navicular disease. 



art, and made to comprehend as much as may be required 

 of the construction and functions of the very important 

 organ upon which they are destined to exercise their skill. 



