HOOF. 



23 



signifies the tuft of hair that usually grows behind this joint, 

 and also the joint itself and the enlargement made by the 

 bones which form it. 



Pastern (9). — This is the short column of bones which is 

 placed between the fetlock and the hoof. 



The hollozv of the pastern is the hollow at the back and 

 lower part of the pastern. 



The coronet is the comparatively soft lower portion of 

 the pastern which is immediately above the hoof. 



The Hoof (10) is the horny box which encloses the 

 lower part of the limb. The front part of the hoof, near the 

 ground surface, is called the toe ; the side portions, the 

 qtmrters ; and the rear parts, on the ground surface, the 

 heels. The outer portion of the hoof is termed the wall, 

 which is divided into a hard, fibrous outer covering called 

 the crust, and a soft inner layer of non-fibrous horn. The 

 designations "wall" and "crust" are often used indis- 

 criminately. 



The frog is the triangular buffer which is in the centre 

 of the ground surface of the hoof. 



The cleft of the frog is the division in the middle line 

 of the frog. In healthy feet, it consists of only a slight 

 depression. 



The bars of the hoof are the portions of the wall of the 

 hoof which are turned inwards at the heels, and run more or 

 less parallel to the sides of the frog. The sole is that portion 

 of the ground surface of the foot which is included between 

 the wall, bars, and frog. 



Back (11). — Anatomically speaking, the back consists of 



