22 HORSE AND MAN. 



CHAPTER E. 



Connection between th8 foot and the hoof — Extent of the foot — What 

 is horn ? — Original dwelling-place of the horse — Climbing powers of 

 the horse — Requisites of the hoof — Strength, because it has to 

 bear the weight of so heavy an animal — Lightness, lest the horse 

 should have to lift needless weight — The 'coffin ' bone and its struc- 

 ture — Hardness, to endure contact with bad ground — Sharpness, 

 round edge to enable the horse to climb — Clinging, to suit smooth 

 and slippery ground — Self-repairing, for restoration of worn 

 material: the wall, frog, and sole — Structure of the wall — The 

 horny laminae — Their origin and mode of growth — Over-grown hoofs 

 — Elasticity begins with angle of pastern — The FROG, its position, 

 structure, and office — Analogies between Nature and human inven- 

 tions — The sole, its structure and double office. 



Having now taken a comprehensive glance at the 

 skeleton of the horse, and seen the relationship 

 between the foot and the animal, we will go into 

 a little more detail, and see where is the connection 

 between the foot and the hoof. 



The popular idea on this subject is that the hoof, 

 or at all events the hoof together with the fetlock, 

 is the foot ; whereas, as we have seen, the foot of the 

 fore-limbs begins at the so-called knee, and that of, 

 the hind limbs at the hock. 



The hoof is. in fact, the nail of the finger or toe, 



