318 THE HORSE AND HIS STRUCTURE. 



There is a peculiarity about the sole which needs 

 notice. The fibres of the crust, or wall of the hoof, 

 lie nearly perpendicularly, are supplied with new matter 

 from above, and are worn away by friction below. 

 Those of the sole are not subject to friction. Instead, 

 therefore, of being gradually worn away, the horn is 



UNDER SURFACE, UNTOUCHED HOOF. 



secreted in flat plates, which flake off successively when 

 their work is done. 



Contrast this hoof with the same organ as it appears 

 after the farrier has worked his will on it. The frog 

 was made for the purpose of resting on the ground, and 

 by its great elasticity diminishing the shock caused by 

 the tread of so heavy an animal. So the first thing that 

 a farrier does is to cut away the frog. Mr, Fleming 

 mentions that he has seen a gentleman's coachman stop 

 his horses, get off the box, and cut away the frogs from 



