HORSESHOEING. 



25 



branches (c, e) or wings of the os pedis. The upper, articular 

 surface (6) slopes backward and downward. The lower, solar or 

 plantar surface (Fig. 8, a) is slightly concave, and presents pos- 

 teriorly a half-moon-shaped excavation, with a roughened bor- 

 der called the semilunar crest (o), to which the perforans tendon 

 attaches ; just above this crest are two small holes (e) known as 

 the plantar foramina, through which the plantar arteries pass 

 into the bone. The surfaces of wall and sole come together in 

 a sharp edge, which is circular in its course. It is easy to tell 



Os pedis seen in profile and in front ; a, 

 anterior face witli pyramidal eminence 

 above ; 6. joint-surface ; c, wings or branches 

 of lioof-bone ; d, notch which, by the attach- 

 ment of the lateral cartilage, is converted 

 into a foramen and leads to e, the preplan- 

 tar fissure. 



Lower surface of hoof-bone ; a, anterior 

 portion covered by the velvety tissue of the 

 sole ; &, wing of the os pedis ; c, semilunar 

 crest, to which the perforans tendon at- 

 taches ; d, plantar fissure leading to e, plan- 

 tar foramen. 



whether a pedal bone is from a fore or a hind limb ; the os pedis 

 of a hind leg has a steeper and more pointed toe, and a more 

 strongly concaved solar surface than the same bone of a foreleg. 

 Not only is the outline of the sharp inferior border of the os 

 pedis of a front foot more rounded at the toe, but when placed on 

 a flat surface the toe does not touch by reason of being turned 

 slightly upward, much as a shoe designed to give a "rolling 

 motion." The os pedis of a hind foot is narrower from side to 

 side (pointed), and does not turn up at the toe. 



The right and left hoof-bones are also, as a rule, easily distin- 

 guished by variations in the surfaces of wall and sole. The shape 



