1 66 . HORSES. 



sequently, for his owner. It may not be amiss, how- 

 ever, in closing the discussion, to insert here 



A LITTLE THEORY. 



The following from the American Cyclopcedia will 

 be of interest to all who wish to do for themselves a 

 little " reasoning after the fact ": 



" The hoof of the horse presents an admirable adap- 

 tation to secure solidity and elasticity in an instrument 

 of progression ; the whole exterior horny covering, x 

 composed of modified epidermic structure, is a hollow 

 cone truncated above, into which the coffin bone is re- 

 ceived ; highest in front, it gradually diminishes back- 

 ward, where it is suddenly turned inward, becom- 

 ing mixed with the sole, supporting the under parts 

 of the foot, and protecting the sole and the frog from 

 too rough pressure against the ground ; this internal 

 wall, called the ' bars of the foot,' by its sloping direc- 

 tion distributes the weight of the body toward the 

 sides of the hoof, with whose numerous perpendicular 

 horny laminae interdigitate similar processes from the 

 vascular surface of the coffin bone. In the triangular 

 space in the center of the foot is an elastic horny 

 mass called the frog, its base connecting the posterior 

 curves of the hoof, the sides united with the bar, and 

 the point extending about to the center of the sole ; 

 on the sides are deep channels, to allow of its expan- 

 sion and render the foot elastic ; its actual thickness 

 in horn is not so great as farriers seem to think, from 

 the freedom with which they use the paring knife ; in 



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