EXTERIOR. 



57 



is its profile (A, B, fig. 29), from the anterior part to the 

 sesamoid bones, inclusive. 



The fetlock (A, B, fig. 29) bends like the knee, and can 

 close the pastern at the rear of the canon almost at a 

 right angle. 



The pastern (P), first phalanx (fig. 29) makes, with 

 the metacarpus, an obtuse angle in front of the canon. 

 Its oblique direction mitigates the shock of the foot upon 

 the ground ; it should not be too long. Its inclination is 

 variable. Writers agree in their preference for that of 

 forty-five degrees. 



The coronet is the bond of union between the skin 

 and the wall of the hoof to which it gives the proper 

 contour in its superior portion. Its border is not very- 

 projecting, and its rounded conformation becomes inter- 

 mingled in the rear with the heel. It is the superior 

 portion of the second phalanx prolonging the first in the 

 same direction. 



The foot (S), nail or horny box, known as the hoof y 

 terminating each limb comes in contact with the ground 

 and there leaves a trace more or less rounded. It has, 

 as its base, the third phalanx, the pedal bone. 



Pieds no,, ferres 



Devout 



Fig. 29. 



Fig. 30. 



The koo/(S, fig. 30) is externally composed of the 

 wall or paries, a horny curvated plate, which occupies the 

 inferior portion under the name of the sole (S, fig. 30). 

 The anterior portion is known as the toe (P). The 

 lateral faces are the mamae (M), then the quarters (Q), 

 and the heel (T). 



In the posterior portion, the wall curves upon itself 

 in buttresses (A), which limit the points of the sole and 



