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unite, becaufe the motion of the foot-bone upon 

 the fiefny foie is very imperceptible, being 

 flrengthened by the horny fole, enclofed all 

 round by the enchanneiled fiefh, and fecured 

 over all its furface, which is equally enchan- 

 neiled by the inner horny furface of the hoof, 

 which is foft and whitilh. 



From all I have faid above, it may be con- 

 cluded, that I. The nature of the union of the 

 fibres of the fuperior parts, the tenfion and elaf- 

 ticity of which is very great in the foot, ought 

 to render them fufceptible of all the unhappy 

 confequences of compreflion ; 



2. That it is to no purpofe to keep horfes 

 who have any fradlures, except in the foot- 

 bone; the fradlure of this is capable of unit- 

 ing, becaufe of its having fo little motion, and 

 is fecured as I have juft faid. 



I keep fome preparations as tellimonials of 

 cafes which prove, that if a nail penetrates to 

 the joint of the foot, where matter may be 

 formed, and by its long continuance putrify, 

 fo as to erode the cartilages of the joint, by its 

 corrofive quality, the cafe is incurable. 



3. "When a fudden motion or effort of a 

 horfe is not fufliciently violent to fracture the 

 articulations of the foot, the puHi of the coro- 

 nary-bone upon the nut-bone, muft occafion a 

 ftrong comprelTion upon the fiefhy fole againft 

 the horny fole, which we look upon to be no 

 jTiore than an expanfion of the nervous tufts of 



the 



