140 



SHOEING HORSES. 



(No. 3.) 



Back view of the 

 bones of the foot. 



In the horse's foot we have one of the most perfect pieces 

 of mechanism imaginable, for strength and 

 great mobility of action. The bones are 

 united, bandaged, and supported in the 

 most perfect manner by the tendinous 

 structure, through and between which is a 

 network of nerves and blood-vessels ; over 

 and surrounding this we have the hoof, a 

 strong covering of compressible horn, which 

 grows down, like the nails on the fingers, 

 from the coronary ring under the hair, as 

 fast as it would 

 wear off on a grass- 

 ing surface. This 

 hoof, or horny cov- 

 ering, comprises 

 three natural divi- 

 sions, each having 

 a peculiarity of 



structure adapted to the require- 

 ments of the location. 

 The upright wall is 

 about three-sixteenths 

 of an inch at the heel, 

 to three - eighths or 

 more of an inch thick 

 at the toe. The sole, 

 which extends from the 

 point of the 

 frog, in an arched form, 

 out to the 

 upright 

 wall and 

 unites with 



it firmly, forms a strong elastic arch, 

 that gives the most perfect support 

 to the pedal bone. The part com- 

 (No. 5.) ing immediately under the centre 



(No. 4.) 



A side view of some of the car 

 tilages supporting the joints. 

 c Interosseous, &c. 

 ee Articular ligaments. 

 o Outer cartilage belonging to 



the coffin-bone. 

 p The inner cartilage belong- 

 ing to the coffin-bone. 



foot. ~ t o? 



which is of a peculiar spongy, elas- 

 tic structure, and fills up all the space between the heels : ex- 



