20 



THE ART OF HORSE- SHOEING. 



which it is connected to the parts within. A little deeper 

 examination is necessary to understand the mechanism 

 of the whole organ. 



If we divide into two lateral halves, a foot cut off at 

 the fetlock joint, we have a section which should show 

 the whole of the deeper structures. In the centre, we see 

 the three lower bones of the limb — the pastern, coronet, 

 and pedal. (Fig. 11.) On the front surface of these 



Fig. 11.— Section of Foot. 



iDones, we notice a tendon or sinew which comes from 

 above the knee and is fixed to the upper part of the pedal 

 bone. At the back of the bones, two very large tendons 

 run down and are fixed on the last two bones. These 

 tendons are the structures through which the movements 

 of the foot are made. They have in themselves no power 

 of contraction, but they are connected above the knee, 

 and in the hind leg above the hock, to powerful muscles 

 which i30ssess the power of contraction. When these 

 muscles contract, the tendons are drawn up towards knee 

 or hock, and so move the foot backwards or forwards. 



To permit movement of one bone ui)Oii another, the 

 ends of the bones are suitably shai)ed, and covered with 

 a layer of gristle or cartilage. To limit the movement, 

 and to hold the bones together, the ends of each bone are- 



