140 SHOEFING. 
still greater strength. The, coffin-bone is semi-lunar in 
form—the front surface is convex, the ground and pos- 
terior surfaces are concave. The projections behind on 
either side are called the ale or wings, to which are 
attached the lateral cartilages, which extend upward 
and backward, and are readily discovered by placing 
the fingers above the hoof at the quarters. ~The navicu- 
lar bone completes the bones of the foot, situated pos- 
teriorily between the coffin and coronary bones, form- 
ing what is commonly known as the coffin or navicu- 
lar joint. It is semi-oval in form, presenting four sur- 
faces, the upper articulating with the coronary, the an- 
terior with the coffin-bone ; the lower, over which the 
perforans tendon or. back sinew plays, has a much 
broader surface than either of the others. Posterior 
and under these bones, we have the ligamentous 
Jrog; between this frog and the sole we have the 
sensitive frog; covering the anterior surface of the 
coffin-bone we find a very delicate structure, known 
as the sensitive lamine, which is very vascular and 
largely supplied with minute nerves. This laminated 
structure corresponds to that of the hoof, and when 
adjusted, fills up the entire circle of the hoof. I deem 
it unnecessary to go into a more minute description of 
the parts, as it would be uninteresting to the general 
reader. To those who feel interested in the subject of 
shoeing, great benefit will be derived by a car eful peru- 
sal of these remarks. 
It has been proven by long experience, that the sen- 
sitive parts within the hoof do not suffer so long as the 
bearing of the animal is confined to the crust or wall, but 
when removed from that bearing they soon become dis- 
eased ; hence if the sole of the foot bear against the shoe 
in any considerable degree, the fleshy or inner sole -be- 
