LUNGWITZ'S CONCLUSIONS ON EXPANSION. 



119 



In addition, Lungwitz by himself undertook another series 

 of experiments on living feet, using girdles, callipers, and pieces 

 of gummed-on paper. He came to the following conclu- 

 sions : — 



1. Dead hoofs, both sound and diseased, except those with 

 ossified lateral cartilages, dilate at the coronary margin of the 

 heels. 



2. In healthy hoofs the bearing surface dilates, both at the 

 coronet and at the ground surface. 



3. This dilatation results in a slight shortening of the longi- 

 tudinal diameter of the hoof, which is best shown at the 

 coronary border. 



4. Dilatation of the bearino- surface of the wall is shown in 

 different ways, according to the form of the hoof. In flat or 

 laminitic hoofs it increases from the toe towards the heels, but 

 diminishes again towards the bearing surface, 



o. Dilatation of the bearing surface is impeded by shoeing 

 and by dryness of the horn. 



6. Flexibility of the horn, and a well-developed but un- 

 trimmed frog, favour dilatation of the hoof at the bearing 

 surface. 



7. In hoofs with wired-in heels and compressed bars, dilata- 

 tion under the body-weight may still occur, but the most 

 posterior part of the bearing surface of the heel does not take 

 part in it — rather the contrary. 



In the year 1882 Bayer undertook experiments on the 

 dilatation of the living hoof, using an electrical apparatus. He 

 also found that, when weight was placed on the foot, dilatation 

 occurred at the heels both at the coronary and bearing margins. 



