THE EAR, THE EYE, THE SKIN, AND THE FOOT 



131 



fornier are visually regarded as vestiges of the first digit. Ttiey are 

 of varialjle form and size and occur on the inner surface of the 

 forearm, and on tlie lower part of the inner face of the hock. The 

 term "ergot" is apphed to a small mass of horn which is .situated 

 in the tuft of hair at the fetlock. It is the vestige of the second 

 and fourth digits of extinct horses, and hence is absent in cases 

 in which these digits are developed. 



THE FOOT 



The foot is a most important structure (Fig. 43). The utility 

 of the horse may l)e largely measured by the fitness of the foot for 



S/x'ce bf_-lu:<Tfi 

 hiir and frog 



Angle nj n-nil 



Pi:rioplc of Ind 



log 4o.— Cross-.scction of foot, cut paralli;! with C(jronct. The wall ap- 

 pears much thicker at the angles than it actually is, because it is cut very 

 obliquely. (Sisson, Anatomy of Domestic Animals.) 



service. All the parts of the foot to be described represent coun- 

 terparts of the .skin. 



The chfferent structures comprising the foot ntay be grouped 

 into: (1) Organs which gipe the foot eladi city; (2) sensitive organs of 

 the foot; (3) the protective organ of the foot. 



