22 



THE ART OF HORSE-SHOEING. 



extremity of the heels, the wall is not supported by bone, 

 but by strong plates of gristle, which are called the 

 lateral cartilages. 



Fig. 14— The Lateral Cartilage. 



The Lateral Cartilages are situated one on either 

 side of the foot, partly Avithiu and partly without the 

 hoof. They form the basis upon which the back part of 

 the wall is moulded, and being elastic, permit a certain 



Fio. 15.— Coffin Bone and Lateral Cartilages seen from above. 



amount of movement in the posterior parts of the foot. 

 (Fig. 14.) If the coffin bone filled the whole hoof, the 

 foot would be too rigid. With boue at the front portion. 



