176 COMPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARV ART 



inside of the coronet. Into these orifices the 

 extremities of those vessels are inserted which 

 secrete the hornv matter, the whole of which 

 fippears to be pervaded by a fine fluid, serving 

 to prevent brittleness, and to preserve in the 

 hoof a proper degree of elasticity. 



All the internal surlace of the crust, except 

 the groove we have just mentioned, is covered 

 by a beautiful membranous or laminated sub- 

 stance, which very much resembles the under 

 surface of a mushroom. This is united, or 

 rather interwoven, with similar laminae or mem- 

 branes, which cover all the anterior and lateral 

 surfaces of the sensible foot, forming a very 

 secure union between the crust and the in- 

 ternal parts. Nor are these membranes pos- 

 sessed m^erely of great strength : they possess 

 likewise a considerable degree of elasticity, 

 ronstituting one of those curious springs which 

 Nature has provided to prevent concussion 

 when the animal is in motion. That these la- 

 mina3 form a union between the crust and 

 sensible foot, of snfiicient strength to support 

 -the aiiimaPs weight, has been proved beyond a 

 doubt, by removing from a living horse the 

 bottom of the hoof, thtit is, the sole and frog. 

 In this case, had the lamineu been unable to 



