THE HORNY LAMINiE THK SOLE. 297 



regaining its usual fonn. It can also be conceived that these 

 bars must form a powerful protection against the contraction, oi 

 wiring in, of the quarters. A moment's inspection {g, Fig. 46) 

 will show that, if the bars are taken away, there will be nothing 

 to resist the contraction or falling in of the quarters, when the foot 

 is exposed to any disease, or bad management, that would induce 

 it to contract. One moment's observation of them will also ren- 

 der evident the security which they afford to the frog (/), and 

 the effectual protection which they give to the lateral portions of 

 the foot. 



Then appears the necessity of passing lightly over them, and 

 leaving prominent, when the foot is pared for shoeing, that which 

 so many smiths cut perfectly away. They imagine that it gives 

 a more open appearance to the foot of the horse. Horses shod for 

 the purpose of sale, have usually the bars removed with this 

 view ; and the smiths in the neighborhood of the metropolis and 

 large towns, shoeing for dealers, too often habitually pursue, with 

 regard to aU their customers, the injurious practice of removing 

 the bars. The horny frog, deprived of its guard, will speedily 

 contract, and become elevated and thrushy ; and the whole of the 

 heel, having lost the power of reaction which the curve between 

 the bar c and the crust d gave it (vide Fig. 47.), will speedily 

 fall in. 



THE HORNY LAMUf.^, OR LEAVES. 



The inside of the crust is covered by thin homy leaves (c. Fig 

 46), extending all round it, and reaching from the coronary ring 

 to the toe. They are about five hundred in number, broadest at 

 their base, and terminating in the most delicate expansion of horn. 

 They not a little resemble the inner surface of a mushroom. In 

 front, they run in a direction from the coronet to the toe, and 

 towards the quarters they are more slanting from behind forwards 

 They correspond, as wUl be presently shown, with similar carti 

 laginous and fleshy leaves on the surface of the coffin-bone, and 

 form a beautiful elastic body, by which the whole weight of the 

 horse is supported. 



THE SOLE 



Is under, and occupies the greater portion of the concave and 

 elastic surface of the foot (see b, Fig. 47), extending from the 

 crust to the bars and frog. It is not so thick as the crust, because, 

 notwithstanding its situation, it does not support so much weight 

 as the crust ; and because it was intended to expand, in order to 

 prevent concussion, when, by the descent of the bone of the foot, 



