STRUCTURE OF THE FOOT. 255 



When the crust is removed there are seen numerous 

 little projecting vascular lamellse, or plates, running 

 parallel with each other from the coronet to the sole, 

 over the whole of the outer pedal surface. Cor- 

 responding with these are similar horny projections, 

 or plates, springing from the interior substance of the 

 crust, which are of lighter colour and less brittle 

 nature than the horn of the coronet. 



The crust diminishes in height and thickness as it 

 proceeds backward. Where it gains the sides it is 

 distinguished by the name of the quarters; being 

 called the toe in front, the quarters at the sides, and 

 the heels behind. Great attention should be paid to 

 the quarters, in all examinations of the foot. If the 

 crust decrease too much and too rapidly in height, a 

 weak foot is indicated — an inability to bear much 

 rattling on the stones, and a greater liability to being 

 pricked in shoeing. Such a horse is said to have low 

 heels. If the decrease in height is little and slow, the 

 horse is said to have high heels; and generally has 

 contraction, chronic thrush, or navicular disease. 



The crust, being still continued backward from 

 where it forms the heels, turns round and takes a 

 direction again forward upon the sole, along the out- 

 side of the frog. However, the continuation of the 

 crust upon the sole assumes the name of the bars. 

 Such continuation and projection of the crust is erro- 

 neously considered an important part of the foot. It 

 used to be regarded as one of Nature's protections 

 against contraction ; and the farrier who did not know 

 anything about these suppositions, in order to give an 

 appearance of openness to the foot, frequently cut the 



