372 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



The sensitive lamina are thin plates of soft tissue, covering the 

 entire anterior surface of the coffin bone. They are present in great 

 numbers, and by fitting into corresponding grooves on the inner sur- 

 face of the horn of the wall the union of the soft and horny tissues is 

 made complete. (Plate XXIX, fig. 1.) 



The plantar cushion is a thick pad of fibrous tissue placed behind 

 and under the navicular and coffin bones, and resting on the sole and 

 frog, for the purpose of receiving the downward pressure of the 

 column of bones and to destroy shock. (Plate XXIX, fig. 4.) 



The lateral cartilages are attached, one on either side, to the wings 

 of the coffin bone by their inferior borders. They are thin plates of 

 fibre-cartilage, and their function is to assist the frog and adjacent 

 structures to regain their proper position after having been displaced 

 by the weight of the body while the foot rested on the ground. (Plate 

 XXIX, fig. 2.) 



FAULTS OF CONFORMATION. 



A large percentage of horses have feet which are not perfect in 

 conformation, and as a consequence of these imperfections they are 

 especially predisposed to certain injuries and diseases. 



Flatfoot is that condition in which the sole has little or no con- 

 vexity. It is a peculiarity common to some breeds, especially heavy, 

 lymphatic animals raised on low, marshy soils. It is confined to the 

 fore feet, which are generally broad, low heeled, and with a wall less 

 upright than is seen in the perfect foot. 



In flatfoot there can be little or no elasticity in the sole, for the 

 reason that it has no arch, and the weight of the animal is received 

 on the entire plantar surface, as it rests upon the ground instead of on 

 the wall. For these reasons such feet are particularly liable to bruises 

 of the sole, corns, pumiced sole, and excessive suppuration when the 

 process is once established. Horses with flatfoot should be shod with 

 a shoe having a wide web, pressing on the wall only, while the heels 

 and frog are never to be pared. Flatfoot generally has weak walls, 

 and, as a consequence, the nails of the shoe are readily loosened and 

 the shoe cast. 



Club foot is a term applied to such feet as have the wall set nearly 

 perpendicular. When this condition is present the heels are high, 

 the fetlock joint is thrown forward, or knuckles, and the weight of 

 the animal is received on the toes. Many mules are clubfooted, 

 especially behind, where it seems to cause little or no inconvenience. 

 Clubfoot may be cured by cutting the tendons in severe cases; but, as 

 a rule, special shoeing is the only measure of relief that can be 

 adopted. The toe should not be pared, but the heels are to be lowered 

 as much as possible, and a shoe put on with a long projecting toe 

 piece, slightly turned up, while the heels of the shoe are to be made 

 thin. 



