to 



thc pastern and forming the fetlock -Joint, making a pliant angle, on which 

 part of the weight and Impression is dissipated and lost, the rest with 

 diminished rigor being carried obliquely towards the foot, for it must 

 appear evident, that if the foot had been situated under the perpendicular 

 Ijne of the limb, it would have been more severely feit and oppressive. 



Tinally occurs the basis or foot, possessing elasticity for destroying the 

 cfFects of the impression of the weight, and an insensible covering for the 

 contact and abrasion of the soil. Its plan, if vve may be allowed the 

 expression, appears to be, that, placed before the limb, it should receive 

 near its front parts the obliquely advancing pastern and coronet-bones from 

 the fetlock; and that the hoof, by taking a reclining direction, should convey 

 the Impression or weight backwards again towards the posterior parts of the 

 foot, where its elasticity and spring principally resides, thus preventing con- 

 cussion to the fetlock and body, and affording ease and liberty to the various 

 parts of the foot : in conformity also with the general design of the fore 

 limb, in easing the weight of the body, and softening the Impression of the 

 stroke, the fore foot, we have rcmarked, is very differently constituted to 

 the hind, possessing more elasticity and extent of bearing on the ground, a 

 more concave sole, and a thinner and less upright hoof, which will enable 

 US satisfactorily to account for the more injurious effects of the iron shoe 

 upon the fore than upon the hind feet, and not, as has been hitherto 

 erroneously supposed, from the hind feet being more exposed to the düng 

 and urine of the standing of the stall. 



The hoof of the horse having been zn object of our particular solicitud« 

 and attention, we here advance the most improved views we have been 

 brought to respecting it : 



The hoof of the horse is most adniirably constructed of a circle of hörn 

 inteirupted and broken at its posterior part, with the ends or extremities 

 inflected or turned inwards towards the centre of the circle, thereby 

 creating an open space or'triangukr cavity for the Insertion of the frog, 

 which is, as the bow-string to the bow, made of a softer and more elastic 

 hörn, and yields more readily to the bow-like actions or movements of 

 the hoof, its true and real Office : for the frog is not performing, as has been 

 lieretofore imagined, the Operation of a wedge in forcing asunder the heels, 



but 



