39 



we should thoroughly understand the nature and uses of every 

 tissue that compose the foot. The articular cartilages are sub- 

 ject to abrasion from a lack of synovia; to ossification from 

 perverted nutrition ; to ulceration from its propinquity to the 

 ulcerative process in the bone when present, and to adhesion 

 to the perforans tendon, when the latter is the subject of in- 

 flammation which is followed by a lymphy exudation. 



THE LIGAMENTOUS TEXTURES OF THE FOOT. 



These textures comprise : 



1. The coronary ligament. 



2. The periosteum and endosteum of bones. 



3. The tendons and tendinous expansions of muscles. 



4. The perichondrial membranes. 



5. The synovial membranes. 



6. The ligaments that brace joints. 



7. The areolar or connective tissues. 



THE CORONARY LIGAMENT. 



Sui generis amongst ligamentous textures is the coronary lig- 

 ament. It is variously designated as the coronary ligament, 

 ba'nd, or substance. I presume there has been some difficulty, 

 from the peculiarity of its structure, in denning its true place 

 in the category of foot-textures. As it is most frequently re- 

 ferred to as the coronary ligament, I have placed it under the 

 head of ligamentous textures, with the above remark as to its 

 anomalous classification. 



^FUNCTIONS OF THE CORONARY LIGAMENT. 



The locale of this ligament is the coronary concavity, just 

 inside of the superior margin of the wall. It is the principal 

 medium of connection between the skin and the hoof. It 

 appears to be transitional in its character, partaking somewhat 

 of the characters of both. Its surface towards the wall is papil- 

 lated, and each papilla penetrates a horn tube, or fibre, of 

 which the fibrous portion of the wall is made up. It is affirmed 

 by one writer, Mr. Fleming, that the entire wall is secreted by 



