STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE FOOT. 307 



different parts of the foot and leg, and also the manner hi which 

 tlie weight is supported. It shows the relative proportion sup- 

 ported by the coffin and the navicular bone, and the manner in 

 "which it is distributed. The names of the different parts are 

 given on the plate for the convenience of reference. Tlie 

 various joints are disj)layed with their capsular ligaments, which, 

 in the upper joint, the fetlock, are particularly shown, being 

 formed to admit the considerable action which this joint pos- 

 sesses. The coffin joint is clearly distinguished from the navi- 

 cular joint capsule, the furmer being in front and the latter 

 behind the navicular bone. The course of the back sinews is 

 clearly exposed, as well as that of the suspensory ligament, and 

 the internal structure of the bones is developed, and the colour 

 of the various parts correctly given. 



The hoof may be separated from the internal parts either by 

 boiling, by soaking in cold water, or in hot dung ; but the natural 

 colour of the parts is altered by this method. The crust may 

 be separated from the coffin bone by putting the foot in a vice, 

 and tearing it off with pincers, first, however, separating the 

 vsole from the crust by means of a draw'ing knife. By this plan, 

 the natural colours of the lamina? are shown, and the tenacious 

 union between the horny and sensible lamince strikingly proved.* 



The external shape and appearance of the foot can be most 

 readily observed by an inspection of the living foot. 



* For a further description of these parts the reader is referred to a 

 " Treatise on the Structure, Economy, and Diseases of the Foot and Leg of 

 the Horse," by the editor of this work, from which the following brief sum- 

 mary of the springs of the leg and foot is obtained. " We have seen that the 

 leg of the horse is furnished with a vast number of beautiful springs for the 

 purpose of warding off' concussion, and that these springs are mostly situated 

 at the posterior part of the limb. First we have the splint bones, which re- 

 ceive some portion of the superincumbent weight, and which we do not find 

 in oxen ; then we have the suspensory ligament, a spring of much greater im- 

 portance, and whose operation, we have seen, extends to both fetlock and 

 pastern joints; next we find the elastic cushion, on which the small pastern 

 rests, and which, though unnoticed by physiologists, is yet of much import- 

 ance. Within the hoof we find the horny and sensible laminte extending so 

 considerably the surface of connection between the hoof and coffin bone, and 

 greatly diminishing, by their elastic connections as well as by their extent of 

 surface, the concussion of the foot. We have, also, the lateral and inferior 

 cartilages, and the horny and elastic frog, thus affording altogether a collec- 

 tion of beautiful apparatus far superior to any which the most skilful inge- 

 nuity of ii'.an can devise. All the superincumbent weight borne both by the 

 splint bones and suspensory ligaments are again transferred to the cannon 

 bone, so that all the weight of each limb is supported by both pastern bones. 

 Below this, however, provision is made not only for rendering easy the sup- 

 port of the weight, but for transferring a portion of it to the ground without 

 bearing on the extreme bone. Each fore leg alternately bears a weight equal 

 to the animal's entire gravity, all which is supported by tlie small pastern 

 bone, and is thus distributed to the parts below. A moderate proportion is 

 first communicated to the elastic cushion, whence it is impressed on the 



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