The Foot — Its Care and Shoeing. 109 



interest because so often affected, being turned into bone 

 (ossified) and thus rendered immovable; the cartilages 

 are attached below to the wings of the pedal bones. 



The sensitive laminse may be considered as growths or 

 continuations of the coronary cushion and it is important 

 to remember that the band (coronary cushion) on account 

 of its manner of growth should on no account be cut 

 through or the shape and appearance of the foot will be 

 injured; if by any means the wall is stripped so as to 

 leave the lamina bare, those leaves seem to grow rap- 

 idly; it has been said, that these laminae are sensitive, 

 such being the case, the severe pain shown when a horse 

 is foundered (laminitis) is thus accounted for. The 

 hoof is developed from the skin, the horny material com- 

 ing from the superficial layer of the skin, the sensitive 

 structures from the deep layer, such being the case it is 

 readily understood how the hoof and skin are alike in 

 color. The hoof is made of fibres resembling hairs, 

 stuck together, with a downward and forward direction. 

 It seems to be the accepted opinion that white hoofs are 

 more delicate, porous and prone to disease than are dark 

 colored ones. The growth of the hoof downwards and 

 forwards is uniform in the healthy foot, the rate of 

 growth is about a third of au inch a month; hind hoofs 

 grow faster than front ones, and unshod faster than shod. 

 The conditions favoring growths are — exercise, moisture 

 and barefootedness; the time required for the hoof to 

 grow from the coronet to the ground at the toe is 1 2 

 months, at the quarters 6 to 8 months, and at the heels 

 3 to 5 months. 



Hoof Ointments do not affect the horn already se- 

 creted, but may stimulate the growth of horn from the 



