The Foot — Its Description. 97 



vesico sudorific to reduce the gangrenous lump 

 which is sure to form. All horses that have cut 

 their knees deep enough to allow the synovia to 

 escape are never to be trusted again, as they are 

 sure to fall sooner or later. 



THE FOOT: ITS DESCRIPTION. 



I now come to a very common and also a very 

 troublesome complaint, known as laminitis, or 

 fever in the feet. That my readers may 

 thoroughly understand this complaint, it will 

 be necessary that I should give a description of 

 the foot of the horse to show the beautiful handi- 

 work of the Creator, and the ignorance of man, 

 who often looks upon the foot of the horse as a 

 solid block of horn, and treats it accordingly. 

 The formation of the foot of the horse fits him 

 above all other animals, except the ass, for the 

 service of man. In short, had the foot of the 

 horse been cleft, it would have been incapacitated 

 from many of the useful departments of its em- 

 ployment, and a correct knowledge of the struc- 

 tures of every part of the foot is indispensably 

 necessary to render us scientific overseers of the 

 farrier's art. The foot externally is composed of 

 the crust, the sole, the bars, and the frog. The 

 crust is that portion which reaches from the 

 termination of the hair to the ground, its greatest 

 depth and thickness is in front, and denominated 

 the toe. It is more shallow at the sides, termed 

 the quarters, and still less behind, termed the 

 heel. In a healthy well-formed foot when the 

 sole is placed upon the ground the front exhibits 



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