14 



THE ART OF HORSE-SHOEING. 



of liorn. It corresponds Avitli great exactness to the- 

 inside of tlie lioof, and as we liave describe<l the hoof in 

 sections it may be convenient to follow that cours-i with 

 this stnicture, and to describe the sensitive frog, the sew 

 sitive sole, and the sensitive laminae. We shall begin with 

 the last. 



The Sensitive Laminae. — Corresponding to the 

 horn}" leaven on the inside of the wall, the sensitive foot 

 presents an arrangement of minute parall-jl folds which 

 are called the sensitive laminiX-. (I'^ig. 11.) Between 

 these the horny laminae rest, so that there is a kind of 

 interleaved attachment which affords the very firmest 

 connection between the T»"aii and the sen.'^itive foot. If 

 the lamina3 be laid bare in a living horse by removal of 

 the wall, it is found that they have tlie power to secrete 

 a kind of horn, not a LpvPu, iil)roLis horn like that of the 

 wall, but a softer variety. This function is not very 

 active in health or we she aid find t'liat the lower edge of 

 the wall was thicker than the upper; but it exists, and 

 is very evident in some cases of disease. 



Fig. 11.— Foot vrith hoof removed showiriK at the upper part tho 

 Corouaiy baud, and below Uie Sensitive Lamina. 



In laminitis, the wall at the toe is often pushed for- 

 -ward out of ixjsition by a horny mass formed by the^ 

 lamiiuc, and so we have the deformity of an excessive- 

 length of toe. In some cases of long continued sand- 



