ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOEINa. '29 



CHAPTER III. 



HOW THE HOOF GROWS. 



In any treatise on shoeing*, the grotvth of the hoof can- 

 not be left out of consideration, as on it the foot, in an un- 

 shod condition, depends for an efficient protection, while 

 without this process the farrier's art w^ould quickly be of 

 no avail. 



In its unarmed state, the hoof being" exposed to contin- 

 ual wear on its lower surface, from contact with the 

 ground on which the animal stands or moves, is unceasing- 

 ly regenerated by the living tissues within. We have al- 

 ready referred to the special apparatus which is more im- 

 mediately concerned in this work of regeneration, and 

 pointed out that the wall with the laminae on its inner 

 face * is formed from the coronary cushion at the upper 

 part of the foot ; the sole from the living membrane cover- 

 ing the lower face of the pedal bone ; and the frog from the 

 plantar cushion. It has been also mentioned that this 

 dead horny envelop, instead of being merely in juxtaposi- 

 tion with this exquisitely sensitive secretory membrane, is 

 ever^^where penetrated to a certain depth on its inner face 



* It is generally stated that the horny leaves are formed by the sensi- 

 tive ones, with which they are in such close nnion. That this is an 

 error, the microscope, physiology, and pathological experience, 

 abundantly testify. 



