84 THE HORSE. 



OS pedis we have tli« frog and the fibrous frog in fact, a beautiful 

 ehistic cushion ; and postero-laterally the lateral cartilages, readily 

 yielding on the application of pressure. Seeing this arrangement, 

 I naturally seek to find the cause of its existence, and I suggest 

 that it is there in order, by coming in contact with the ground, 

 firist to break the concussive efi"ect, likely, if being hard and un- 

 yielding as the formation at the toe, to be productive of much cost 

 to the animal frame. 



" 4. The progress of action is from the heel to the toe. For 

 example, man, during progression, puts his heel to the ground 

 first; the ox also places his heels similarly on the ground first, and 

 dogs bring their pads in contact with the ground first; does it not, 

 then, seem undeniable, when reasoning by analogy, that the horse 

 similarly brings his heels to the ground first ? 



" During progression, the body moves forward ; during which 

 movement the toe, as evident to every observer, leaves the ground 

 last, that is, when the flexors are contracting. If such be the case, 

 then, for the toe to come in contact with the ground first, as some 

 affirm, and the heel last, is a retrograde and impossible movement. 



" Three principal impressions are made on the foot during pro- 

 gression, namely: 



" 1. On the heel, when great expansion and yielding takes place, 

 owing to the pressure on the frog, which is forced upwards, causing 

 the ultimate expansion of the walls of the hoof, &c. 



" 2. On the middle part of the foot, when the bones bear the 

 weight of the body. The flexors and extensors being, for the in- 

 stant, in a state of quietude, i. e. neither of them are extending or 

 contracting. 



" 3. On the toe, when the animal gives a push, by which an 

 impetus is given to send the body forwards. 



" The foot comes on the ground nearly flat, I admit, but the 

 heel is for an instant on the ground before the toe. 



" I humbly assert, in conclusion, that the progress of action is 

 from the heel to the toe, and not from the toe to the heel." 



It appears to me that argument is here thrown away, for as it 

 is admitted by both sides that the toe and heel are each in certain 

 cases placed on the ground first, it is manifest that either may be 

 in all. Observation, therefore, and not theoretical argument, must 

 determine under what circumstances the foot is deposited with ita 

 toe on the ground, and vice versa. Mr. Spooner, and nearly the 

 whole of the London school, say that the toe touches first in all 

 cases but in the disease known as laminitis; Mr. Lupton, Mr 

 Gamgee, and the Edinburgh new school, assert, on the contrary, 

 that, as a rule, the heel touches the ground a shade the first. Their 

 assertions reach to all paces; but here I think a mistake is com- 

 mitted, for I am confident that in trottint!;, the toe touches the 



