The Foot — Its Description, lOi 



They are continuous with the wall or crust, with 

 which they form acute angles; anteriorly they 

 stretch as far as the point of the frog, constituting 

 two inner walls between that body and the sole. 

 They seem formed for the purpose of offering 

 resistance to the contractions of the heels. By 

 the side of the bars are two concave surfaces, 

 running from the heel towards the toe ; these are 

 called " the cleft of the frog," the surface of 

 which exhibits a remarkable cavity, broad and 

 deep, and of a triangular form. The frog in its 

 superior surface is continuous, uniform, and porous, 

 being the counterpart in form of the inferior sur- 

 face, presenting only reverses where the one is 

 hollow and the other swelling. Opposite to the 

 cleft is the frog stay, which is elevated and 

 bounded on its sides by two deep channels and 

 a hollow of shallower dimensions in the front. 

 This bold horny elevation is admirably calculated 

 to form that dovetailed connection with the sensi- 

 tive foot which greatly augments their surfaces of 

 opposition and establishes their union beyond all 

 risk or possibility of dislocation. 



The external surface of the sole, or the arched 

 plate forming the bottom of the hoof, and cover- 

 ing the whole of the inferior surface of the foot, 

 •excepting the frog, is the part that calls for the 

 undivided attention of the groom. No individual 

 part requires such attention as the sole. As to 

 shoeing, it is here that the smith makes the great 

 mistake of his life, and grooms and owners of 

 horses should see that he does not use the knife 

 to this part ; paring the sole of the foot is a 



