60,6 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



flexor tendon in its passage over the navicular bone and at 

 its insertion into the os pedis. This function was pointed 

 out by Lafosse in 1754: 'The frog serves as a cushion 

 to the tendon of Achilles ... it is composed of soft 

 and compact horn ... of a spongy nature ... it ought 

 to bear on the ground, as much for the facilite as for the 

 safety of the horse in progression . . . it is the natural 

 point cVappii'i of the flexor tendon.' 



In aiding the movements of the internal parts of the 

 foot, its influence on the lateral expansion of the hoof may 

 be said to be 7»7, or at any rate extremely trifling ; and not- 

 withstanding all that has been imagined and written on 

 the subject of this lateral expansion, it may with con- 

 fidence be asserted that the lower margin of the horny 

 case, from the toe to the heels, if perhaps not perfectly 

 immovable under all circumstances, after the animal has 

 attained maturity, yet is, in the unmutilated foot, practi- 

 cally so. With the unpared hoof, it may also be asserted 

 that the sole does not descend ; the descent of this por- 

 tion of the foot, and its lateral expansion at the heels to 

 any very appreciable degree, would be incompatible not 

 only with the functions, but also with the anatomy of that 

 organ. The elasticity required to assist in the movements 

 of the horse and to prevent injury, is to be found in other 

 parts of the foot and limb. Such is the result of daily 

 observation, every variety of experiment possible to devise, 

 and a long and attentive study of the anatomy and phy- 

 siology of this wonderful structure. I have before ex- 

 pressed my opinion that the lateral expansion and sole- 

 descent theory has proved a sad one for the horse, and has 

 caused him years of untold suffering and inconvenience. 



