ANATOMY OF THE FOOT. 



221 



heels, particularly on the inner side of the foot, whereby 

 the power of yielding and expanding to the weight of the 

 horse is proportionably increased, clearly indicating that 

 those parts cannot be nailed to an unyielding bar of iron, 

 without a most mischievous interference with the natural 

 functions of the foot. In the hind foot, the greatest thick- 

 ness of horn will be found at the quarters and heels, and 

 not, as in the fore foot, at the toe. This difference in the 

 thickness of horn is beautifully adapted to the inequality of 

 the weight which each has to sustain, the force with which 



Fig. 10. 



tiou (if theF* ct. 



1. The coronet bone. 2. The coffin bone. 3. The navicular bone. 



a. The wall. b. The sole. c. The cleft of the frog. del. The frog. ee. The fatty- 

 frog, or elastic cushion. /. The sensitive sole. g. The sensitive frog. hhh. Ten- 

 dons of the muscles which bend the foot. t. Part of the pastern bone. 

 kk. Tendons of the muscles which extend the foot. I. Tlie cofijn joint, m. The 

 navicular joint. n. The coronary substance. o. The sensible laminae, or 

 covering of the coffin bone. 



it is applied, and the portions of the hoof upon which it 

 falls. The toe of the fore foot encounters the combined 

 force and weight of the fore hand and body, and conse- 

 quently in a state of nature is exposed to considerable 

 wear and tear, and calls for neater strens^th and substance 

 of horn than is needed by any portion of the hind foot, 

 where the duty of supporting the hinder parts alone is 



