CRUST AND SOLE OF FOOT. 227 



filled with a moist oily substance — which is really 

 the lubricating oil, and supplied for the purpose of 

 keeping the horn tough and moist — the fibres of 

 the crust run in a vertical direction, whilst those 

 of the sole run laterally, and are interwoven with 

 the fibres of the crust. 



If the foot be now placed with the toe down- 

 wards, the sole being towards the observer, a sharp 

 V-shaped growth will be noticed, which extends 

 from the heel to about two-thirds of the distance 

 between the heel and the toe. It is, as I have 

 said, shaped like a V, but like a V whose ends 

 have been looped round. This is what is called 

 the 'frog,' and its looped ends are termed the 'bars.' 

 These latter, doubling back as I have endeavoured 

 to describe, meet the crust some little distance from 

 the heels. 



The use of the frog is to prevent a horse from 

 slipping ; and it is admirably adapted for the pur- 

 pose, needless to remark, as is anything in Nature. 

 The provisions made by Nature fail only when man's 

 ignorance mars her handiwork. Now examine the 

 inside of the foot, and it will be seen that the fibres 

 are very apparent, and present the appearance 

 of a species of coral, which I know well enough 

 by sight, but I do not know its correct name. It 

 is composed of a number of fan-like blades, radiating 



15 — 2 



