ANATOMY OF THE HORSE'S FOOT. 



15 



lower face, and this disposition, together with the rela- 

 tions established between it and the pedal bone through 

 their connecting ligaments, and the bend the tendon 

 makes in passing over it, cause this part of the foot to be 

 one particularly liable to disease, and one especiaUy deserv- 

 ing of attentive study. 



The elastic apparatus of the foot consists of (1) the 

 lateral cartilages just mentioned; (2), a prominent ring or 

 cornice surrounding the upper border of the pedal bone 

 usually known as the " coronary-substance," but which 

 might be more aptly designated the " coronary cushion" ; 

 this fits into a corresponding concavity in the inner and 



Fig. 2.— Horse's Foot divested of its Hoof.— a a, Perioplic ring; & &, perioplic or 

 coronary fissure ; c c c, coronary cushion covered with villi; d d, white zone; f./f, 

 vascular laminae terminating in villi, g. 



upper margin of wall of the hoof, and, besides acting as 

 an elastic body or cushion, performs the important func- 

 tion of secreting this wall or crust of the horny envelop ; 

 (3), a triangular body — the plantar cushion, known to 

 farriers as the " fatty " or " sensitive frog " (to distinguish 

 it from the horny frog which immediately covers it), ad- 

 mirably disposed between the wings of the coffin bone, 

 with a view to protect and sustain the flexor tendon dur- 

 ing its efforts, as well as to diminish concussion by its 

 own resiliency and by the connection it has with the elas- 

 tic cartilages. From its position at the back part of the 

 foot, and the importance of the parts it covers, this portion 



