228 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



from the centre — laminated, in fact. The inside of 

 the foot of a horse is thus laminated ; and these 

 are called the ' sensitive laminae,' in contradis- 

 tinction to the outer portion, which is formed of 

 'insensitive laminae' — answering to the quick in the 

 human nail and the growth from it. 



I trust I may have been able to make my meaning 

 clear enough ; but it is a somewhat difficult matter 

 to be explicit on such a subject without the aid of 

 either specimen or illustration. A more gifted 

 writer than I am could, doubtless, make a better 

 business of it, but then he might perhaps use long 

 words, and I wish to avoid their use as much as 

 possible, so that even a groom can understand what 

 I may treat of herein. 



We have examined the foot of a horse inside and 

 out, and its shape to a certain extent. If it is still 

 further inspected, it may be observed that while 

 the thickness of the sole, except where the frog 

 is situated, is pretty much the same throughout, 

 that of the crust varies very considerably, and that 

 it is very much thicker at the toe than at the heel, 

 and gradually becomes thinner (narrower) as it 

 approaches the heel ; that the inner side of the 

 foot is also slightly thinner than the outside, and 

 that where it is thick at the sole it is very thin at 

 the coronet. 



