GENEEAL OBSERVATIONS 57 



removed by operation or by accident (see reported cases in 

 Chapter VIL). 



The activity of the cells of the rete Malpighii of the 

 corium covering the remainder of the foot will be quite 

 as necessary as the activity of the cells of the coronary 

 papillfe which form the horn tubes themselves. * For,' 

 in Professor Mettam's own words, ' I am inclined to believe 

 that much of the " white line " which is found uniting the 



Fig. 30. — Section through Hoof and Soft Tissues of a Foal at 

 Term. 



The liorn of the wall is shown, and the horn-coie ('horny lamina ') of the 

 epithelial ingi-owth. The latter has advanced far into the cerium, and is 

 now provided with abundant secondary laminar ridges (Mettam). 



wall of the hoof to the sole has been derived from the horn 

 formed from the rete of the foot corium. This origin will 

 explain the absence of pigment from this thin uniting 

 "line," as it does from the horn lining the interior of 

 the wall. The cells of the rete are free of colouring 

 matter.' 



From the matter here given us it is easy to understand 

 how, in a macerated foot, the appearance is given of inter- 



