MUSCLE 



235 



The breadth of the bearing edge of the hoof is greatest 

 at the toe where it is about 10 mm. It becomes less 

 towards the heel, where it is about half that of the toe. 

 The inner surface of the wall of the hoof is marked off from 

 the border of the sole by a line of pale soft horn — '•' the 

 white line." This line is taken as an indication of the limit 

 of safety in driving shoe nails to avoid the sensitive part 

 of the foot. The histology of the hoof nnust be studied 

 practically. 



The Leg. — The conformation of the legs is of great 



Wall 



Layer of pale horn - 

 uniting wall and sole 



Inflected part of 

 wall (" bar ") 



Cruro-parietal groove _ 



Intercrural groove 



Base of cuneus (" bulb ") 



- Sole 



_ Apex of cuneus 



— Crus of cuneus 



Fig. 118. — Volar Aspect of the Hoof. (Bradley.) 



importance, as the resultant forward thrust of the pressure 

 of the toe on the srround is diminished unless the line of 

 action of the force be in the true direction. 



To obtain this action, in the fore leg viewed from the 

 front a vertical line from the middle of the scapulo-humeral 

 articulation should divide the leg into two equal halves and 

 meet the ground at the middle of the toe. In the hind 

 leg, viewed from behind, a vertical line dropped from the 

 tuberosity of the ischium should divide the leg into two 

 equal halves and reach the ground in the middle of the heel 

 (fig. 119, A). "When the legs are as indicated, the line of 



