446 SECRETION OF HORN [BOOK Iir. 



Even when we find it necessary to bleed at the toe, 

 or to keep it very short in order to strengthen the 

 wall, the horse must have rest, or ruin ensues. 



Between the hoof and the coffin-bone interpose 

 an aggregation of secretory vessels, forming & juicy 

 elastic process, that prevents concussion, as would 

 necessarily happen at every step the animal takes 

 but for this providence of nature. We have here 

 marked it (cc) ; but the juicy substance, so produced, 

 pervades the concurrence of all other bones of the 

 foot, only differing much in quality, and in structure 

 a little: between the shuttle and coffin-bones it is 

 more vascular, and the fluid is still decidedly arterial, 

 though the vessels have lost their continuity and 

 merge in an aggregation of cellular structure. Under- 

 neath the coffin-bone (at d), it becomes more elastic, 

 thicker, and striated, resembling pale India rubber, 

 which qualities increase towards the heel (at e). 

 These latter rest upon the hog(ff), which is slightly 

 horny, being perforable with a point-knife so far 

 as (g), where it joins the toe of the hoof, more 

 abruptly as the horse is .most worked, or otherwise. 

 At r is the line of the coffin-joint, so much talked 

 about lately at college. 



Goodwin would needs keep him in countenance, and talks courteously 

 to prove how the two " harmonize," in the shape of a horse's toe ! 

 Who ever heard, before this, of shape harmonising ? By the way, 

 these two author-practitioners do not exactly harmonize professionally, 

 we hear from good authority ; though the pupil seems to clap his 

 former preceptor upon the back, uncandidly, when he allows that 

 Bracy Clark's jointed shoe may hereafter prove a " Basis for the 

 repose of the profession." Both this and that is real stuff, for men 

 of high pretensions and undoubted merit to fall into. 



