is needed by any portion of the hind foot, where tlie duty 

 of supporting the hinder parts alone is distributed over the 

 quarters and heels of both sides of the foot. 



The bars are continuations of the wall, reflected at the 

 heels towards the centre of the foot, where they meet in a 

 point, leaving a triangular space between them for the frog. 



The whole inner surface of the horny crust from the centre 

 of the toe to the point, where the bars meet, is everywhere 

 lined Avith innumerable, narrow, thin, and projecting horny 

 plates,'"' which extend in a slanting direction from the upper 

 edge of the wall to the line "of junction between it and the 

 sole, and possess great elasticity. These projecting plates are 

 the means of largely extendmg the surface of attachment of 

 the hoof to the coffin bone, which is likewise covered by a 

 similar arrangement of projecting plates, but of a highly vas- 

 cular and sensitive character ; and these, dovetailing with 

 the horny pi'ojections above named, constitute an union, com- 

 bining strength and elasticity in a wonderful degree. 



The horny sole covers the whole inferior siu'face of the 

 foot excepting the frog ; in a well formed foot it presents 

 an arched ajapearance, and possesses considerable elasticity, by 

 virtue of which it yields, when the weight above is foi'cibly 

 thrown upon it, and recovers its position, as the weight is 

 removed from it. This property of the sole calls for our 

 especial consideration in directing the form of the shoe ; for if 

 the shoe be so formed, that the horny sole can rest upon it, 

 the sensible sole becomes squeezed between the edges of the 

 coffin bone and the horn, causing Inflammation, and perhaj^s 



♦Plate 1, fig. 2. 



