302 ■ DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



In describing the horde's foot it may not be amiss to take a 

 general view ol' the fore leo- in which we shall find an assemblao;e 

 of large springs, assisting in the same purpose however as those 

 of the foot. The shoulder blade is j)laced obliquely against the 

 side, and attached solely by muscles, by the elasticity of which 

 the body of the animal, as well as the rider, is enabled to bear 

 those violent motions which miist have otherwise been insup- 

 portable. If we look at the skeleton of a horse, we shall be 

 struck with the position of the shoulder blade and the shoulder 

 bone, each lying obliquely, but in opposite directions, so as to 

 form an acute angle at the joint, and of course a considerable 

 spring. We may observe the same admirable contrivance in the 

 hind parts, where the femur, or thigh bone, forms an angle with 

 the pelvis, and with the tibia or leg bone, or, as it appears, and 

 is commonly named, in the living horse, the thigh bone. In 

 viewing the fore leg of the animal, we shall find in the obliquity 

 of the pastern another powerful spring ; and when we consider 

 the immense weight it must occasionally support, as in pitching 

 from a high leap on the ground with a heavy weight, it must 

 appear astonishing how such a tremendous shock can be sup- 

 ported by so small a body ; yet we shall find upon examination 

 such provisions as will enable it to bear any reasonable weight 

 that can be placed upon it. If we now descend to an exami- 

 nation of the foot we shall find in its horny covering another 

 simple and effectual spring ; simple as to its construction, and 

 effectual as to the purpose which it answers, which is that of 

 yielding to the impulse of the animal's weight, and thereby 

 breaking the shock, which must otherwise have been gradually 

 destructive to the foot itself. The hoof is a secretion from the 

 living part of the foot, not wholly from the coronet, but from 

 the living surfiice which it covers, named by Mr. Coleman the 

 laminated substance of the foot; and by others the elastic 

 laminae or processes of the foot. As the quantity of horn 

 necessary for the defence of the sensible foot is considerable, a 

 large quantity of blood is distributed to it for the purpose, and 

 is supplied by two large arteries which pass down on each side 

 of the pastern ; these give off considerable branches to the frog, 

 cartilages, and coronary ring ; but the trunk of the artery enters 

 in at the posterior and inferior part of the coffin bone, and 

 divides into eight branches within the bone, which pass out 

 at the circumference, or angle of the toe, and give off innu- 

 merable branches about the inferior part of the laminated sub- 

 stance, especially about the toe. The distribution of blood to 

 the frog is remarkable: here we find several branches of con- 

 siderable size without giving off other branches, as in the other 

 parts of the foot, until they arrive near the surface, and here 

 they spread into innumerable branches, supplying the skin or 



