MODE OF SEVERINO A FOOl. IffJ 



Between the hoof and the coffin-bone interpose an aggregation of secretory 

 vessels, forming a juicy elastic substance, that prevents concussion, as would 

 neci'ssarily happen at every step but for this providence of nature. 1 have 

 marked it (cc); but this substance, in Uke manner, pervades the concurrence 

 of all other" bones of the foot, only differing much in quality, and in structure 

 a little : between the shuttle and coffin-bones it is more vascular, and the blood 

 ia slid decidedly arterial. Underneath the coffin-bone at (ri), it becomes more 

 elastic, thicker," and striated, resembling pale India rubber, which qualities in- 

 crease towards the heel at (c). These latter rest upon the frog (ff), which is 

 horny, or perforable with a point-knife, so far as (g), where it joms the toe 

 of the hoof, more abruptly as the horse is most worked, or otherwise. 



The navicula (/j,) or shuttle-bone, as it has been called, moves in the midst 

 of much elastic substance, resting upon and pressing the back sinew flat upon 

 the strongest part of that substance, above the centre of the frog. This littl« 

 bone, it will be seen, is well ada[)ted, by its shape, to traverse the lower sur- 

 face of the small pastern (i,) and the lateral edge of the coffin-bone (a,) when- 

 ever the back sinew (A:,) is drawn up to lift the foot, as it does from off the 

 ground, always returning into its place as the foot comes down. At (Z) is the 

 toe, (m) is the heel of tlie foot, and at (n) is the near side cleft of the insensi- 

 ble frog. At (o) is the coronet, or coronary ring, as at (p,) the lowest end 

 of the large pastern bone. 



At (a) when the bone is recently cut through, no difference of structure is 

 perceivable, though upon stricter examination, it will be found at the central 

 part more porous, than that which is adjacent to the other bones; the hard- 

 ness increases towards the whole surface (b b 6), where the cutting presents a 

 perfect enamel. But the contents of the receptacle at (a), I have proved by 

 experiment to be unequivocally the same glutinous substance (in a state of 

 preparation) as the hoof itself This process of nature is well explained by 

 the old aphorism that, "arteries entering Iwne engender bone, thase of mus- 

 cle create muscle," and so on ; and the blood deposited in the coffin-bone, and 

 being dispersed over the internal part of the foot, partakes of all the qualities 

 of bone, membrane, muscle, and skin — the whole combined becomes horn. 



If my advice be worth any thing — if my earnest exhortations to investigate 

 the subject effect their object, every man who reads these pages, whatever may 

 be his station in or about the stable or the smithy, will not fail to make a sec- 

 tion, or cut down the middle of a hoof at the earliest opportunity. To effect 

 this purpose, the now industrious operator needs little more preparation than 

 to furnish himself with a cordwainer's knife, and a butcher's saw with fine 

 teeth : if he can add to these the use of a carpenter's vice, in which tti fix his 

 subject, he will much accelerate his labour. Having secured the foot upside 

 downwards, he will cut down between the cleft at the heel until becomes to 

 the bone at (6), and the wall, or horny part of the hoof (at g)^ where the la- 

 lH)ur of sawing is to begin. The shuttle bone (/i) he will feel and hear rattle 

 forward and backward at every stroke — the horn yields easily. As he pro- 

 ceeds, he will find his trouble lessened and his views of the matter iri hand 

 much enlargea by driving into the chasm his exertions have made, some two 

 or three wedges of wood, whereby he will ascertain that the stiffest part of the 

 horn is elastic, even though he should not have adopted the precaution of soak- 

 ing his preparation, as recommended. He will thus be convinced., that the 

 *i[)pIication of Bracy Clark's jointed shoe is n^t without its uses. But if our 

 Inquirer ha? soaked his horn as directed, he will find that the warm water 

 renders it more elastic, and he will conclude that the practice of permitting 

 their horses to stand in the kciiiirls during the issue of hot water from brew 

 fries, die-houses, rectifiers' promises, &c., must soften the hoofs, and indispose 

 thorn for immediate concussion over the rough stones of our paved »treet& 



