ON LAMENESS. 593 



viewed, or read a defcription of the internal 

 ftrufture of the horfe's foot. 



Mr. Blaine's everlafting penchant for new dif- 

 coveries abfolutely throws a burlefque over 

 many of his fubje6^s, and here, gravity herfelf - 

 cannot withhold a fmile. Par exemple ; who, 

 that had ever a horfe's foot in his hand, yet 

 doubted the pliabiUty and elaflicity of the horny 

 fole? By confequence it required much the 

 fame kind of proof that " the fole defcends by 

 the preflure of the internal parts" as is neceffary 

 to afcertain the amount of, two and two. The 

 general elaflicity of the contents of the hoof,' the 

 defcent of the fole, at every tread, and the in- 

 fracumbent fituation of the frog, tend not barely 

 to elucidate, but clearly to demonftrate the po- 

 fition, that one important fun6lion of the latter 

 is to aft as a cufhion, flay, and falient point. 

 From numerous paffages in this author, a reader, 

 unacquainted with the fubjeft, would be led to 

 fuppofe that the utility of an occafional, or con- 

 ftant fupport in the frog (the term prejjltre has 

 been too freely ufed) of thinnefs at heel, flat- 

 nefs, lightnefs, and folidity in the horfe's fhoe 

 were late, as they are mofl truly important dif- 

 coveries. In flating the confequence of low fhoe- 

 heels, namely lamenefs, " by putting the tendons 

 to the flretch," Mr. Blaine, from want of expe- 

 rience, was not aware of a flill greater, and more 

 permanent objedion : but it is a Ilrange mad- 



VOL. II. Q Q vertence 



