36 Centaur ; 



being thus relieved from the shock of the hard hoof on the 

 ground. This important part is, in too many instances, pared 

 away by the ignorant and prejudiced farrier, who follows 

 what he has been taught by those as unskilful as himself. 



^' The part of the foot which has a plane surface, which is 

 opposed to the ground, and extends from the frog to the out- 

 side or wall of the hoof, is called the sole. It is horny and 

 hard, yet not solid, but somewhat elastic. 



" In the hinder part of the foot, where the two ends of the 

 frog terminate, are the heeh ; and these also are of the same 

 horny character.* 



*' Immediately inside the hoof, in the fore part and sides, is 

 the bone of the foot, properly so called, or the coffin hone, as 

 it is termed. It fills the fore part of the hoof, and is of a 

 light and spongy formation, being filled with numerous blood 

 vessels, through which the circulation of this extreme part 

 of the body is carried on, without any danger of their stop- 

 page by means of the pressure to which they are continually 

 subjected ; the substance of the bone not only allowing the 

 blood vessels to pass freely through, but protecting them 

 from every obstruction. Around this bone are a great 

 number of elastic prominent ridges of a membranous nature, 

 which fit exactly between similar leaves or ridges on the 

 inner part of the hoof. The end for which they are so placed 

 is to modify and soften the shock to which the horse's foot is 

 naturally subjected on passing over the rough ground he has 

 constantly to traverse, and also to attach the hoof to the 

 bone. At its summit, in front, is fixed the large extensor 

 tendon of the foot. 



" Fitting into this bone, at the top, is another called the 

 small pastern bone, to which is joined another strong tendon, 

 that regulates the use of the foot. On its upper surface it 

 forms a cube-like hollow, and receives the end of the large 

 pastern hone; while below and behind is a small movable 

 piece named the navicular bone, which seems to have for its 

 object the steadying and strengthening of the action of the 

 powerful flexor tendon that is inserted into the sole of the 

 cofiin bone. 



" If the foot were a flat and unyielding mass, the danger of 

 slipping would be, in many instances, very great. But in- 



* Author's Note.— This not being a medical work we shall not attempt a 

 full description of the internal structure of the foot ; but our illustration will 

 give a general idea. 



