308 THE HORNY LA^flX/E. — THE SOLE. 



lioof, to show tlic imj^ortance of the bars. The arch which these form on 

 either side between the frog and the quarters, is admirably contrived both 

 to admit of and to Hmit to its proper extent the expansion of the foot. 

 ^Vhen the foot is placed on the ground, and the weight of the animal is 

 thrown on the leaves of which mention has just been made, these arches 

 will shorten and widen, in order to admit of the expansion of the quarters 

 — the bow returning to its natural curve, and powerfully assisting the foot 

 in reeraininar its usual form. It can also be conceived that these bars must 

 form a powerful protection against the contraction, or loiring in, of the 

 quarters. A moment's inspection of the cut (see cj, page 395) will show 

 that, if the bars are taken away, there will be nothing to resist the 

 contraction or falling in of the quarters when the foot is exposed to any 

 disease or bad management that would induce it to contract. One 

 moment's observation of them will also render evident the security which 

 they afford to the frog (/), and the cft'ectual protection which they give 

 to the lateral portions of the foot. 



Then appears the necessity of passing lightly over them, and leaving 

 prominent, when the foot is pared for shoeing, that which so many smiths 

 cut perfectly away. They imagine that it gives a more open appearance 

 to the foot of the horse. Horses shod for the purpose of sale have usually 

 the bars removed with this view ; and the smiths in the neighbourhood 

 of the metropolis and large to^vns, shoeing for dealers, too often habit- 

 ually pursue, with regard to all their customers, the injurious practice of 

 removing the bars. The horny frog, deprived of its guard, will speedily 

 contract, and become elevated and thrushy ; and the whole of the heel, 

 having lost the power of resilience or reaction which the curve between 

 the bar c and the crust d gave it (fu/e p. 395, cut), will speedily fall in. 



THE HORNY IkWlSM. 

 The inside of the crust is covered by thin horny leaves (f, p. 395), ex- 

 tendins: all round it, and reaching fi-om the coronary inng to the toe. 

 They are about 500 in number, broadest at their base, and terminating in 

 the most delicate expansion of horn. They not a little resemble the inner 

 surface of a mushroom. In front they run in a direction from the coronet 

 to the toe, and towards the quartei's they are more slanting from behind 

 forwards. They correspond, as will be presently shown, with similar 

 fleshy leaves on the surface of the coffin-bone, and form a beautiful elastic 

 body, by which the whole weight of Wic horse is supported. 



THE SOLE 



Is under and occupies the greater portion of the concave and elastic 

 surface of the foot (see h, p. 395), extending from the ciiist to the bars 

 and frog. It is not so thick as the crust, because, notwithstanding its 

 situation, it does not support any weiglit ; and because it was intended to 

 expand, in order to prevent concussion, when, by the descent of the bone 

 of the foot, pressure was made on it. It is not so brittle as the crust, 

 and it is more elastic. It does not consist of an equally dense fibrous 

 tissue as the crust, but is developed in layers or scales, which freely exfo- 

 liate as they accumulate at the bottom of the foot. It is thickest at the 

 toe, because the first and principal stress is thrown on that part. The 

 coffin-bone is driven forward and downward in that direction. It is 

 likewise thicker where it unites with the crust than it is towards the 

 centre, for a similar and evident reason, because there the weight is first 

 and principally thrown. 



In a state of nature it is, to a certain degree, hollow. The reason of 

 this is plain. It is intended to descend or yield with the weiglit of the 



