130 



HOUSE- SHOEING. 



face of the membrane, each composed of one or two minute arteries,. 

 which branch off into exceedingly fine net-work, and end in hair-like 

 veins. A nervous filament has also been traced into the interior, so 

 that these tufts are not only vascular, but also sensitive. They play 

 an essential part in the formation of the hoof, and their relations 



Fig. 3. — Sensitive Sole of Horse's Foot.— a, Cartilaginous biubs of the heels, 

 covered by sensitive membrane ; b, inflexion of the coronary cushion; c, 

 middle cleft or lacuna : d d, plantar laminae ; e, limit between the coronary 

 cushion and plantar lamina? ; //, branches of the plantar cushion ; g g g g, 

 termination of the laminae in villi ; li h, sensitive membrane of sole covered 

 with innumerable tine tufts or villi ; i, prolongation of the coronary cushion 

 into the lateral lacuna. 



to that covering must not be neglected by the farrier in his treat- 

 ment of it. 



This is all that need be said at present with regard to the 

 anatomy of the living parts of the horse's foot ; we have referred 

 to it merely to show that this organ is not a crude block of insensi- 

 tire matter, but a most wonderfully-constructed apparatus, possessed 

 of qualities which are not to be found in any other part of the body. 

 In constructing the foot of this noble creature, Nature sought to do 

 more than merely protect the extremely delicate and exquisitely 



