CHAPTER XVII 



DISEASES OF THE FOOT 



General Discussion. — The foot of tlio horse as generally 

 spoken of, includes the hoof and the structures that are enclosed 

 by it (Fig. 3G). It may be divided into three parts, the insensi- 

 tive and sensitive structures and 

 the bony core. The insensitive 

 foot or hoof is divided into wall, 

 sole, frog and bars. The sensitive 

 foot is divided into vascular tissue 

 and elastic apparatus. The vascu- 

 lar tissue is in turn divided into 

 coronary cushion, lamina? and vel- 

 vety tissue. The elastic apparatus 

 is divided into plantar cushion and 

 fibro-cartilages. The bony core is 

 formed by the navicular and third 

 digital bones. The hoof and vascu- 

 lar tissue in tura enclose the 

 elastic apparatus and bony core. 



The wall forms that portion 

 of the hoof seen when the foot rests 

 on the ground (Fig. 37). It is 

 covered by a thin layer of hoiiiy 

 tissue, the iieripole, that coats over 

 the wall and assists in preventing 

 its drying out. On lifting the foot 

 and examining its inferior surface, it is noticed that the wall at 

 the heels is inflected under the foot and in a forward direction. 

 This portion of the wall is termed the hars. Within the bearing 

 margin of the wall and in front of the bars is a thick, concave, 

 horny plate that forms the sole. At the heels and betv/een the 

 160 



Fia. 36. — Photograph of a model of 

 the foot: (D) wall; (F) sensitive tissue; 

 (G) plantar cushion, inferior dark por- 

 tion, sole and frog; (A) lateral carti- 

 lage; and (N) pedal bone. 



