ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE , S FOOT. 145 
covered with corresponding leaves arranged in exactly the 
same manner, though in an inverse order ; passing from above 
to below, each lamina is received into the space between two 
vascular laminae, and vice versa. 
These laminae have been correctly designated “ keraphyllae,” 
or liorn-leaves , to distinguish them from the “ podophyllae,” 
or foot-leaves. In the fresh state they are very flexible, and 
have an unctuous feel, from the pulpy epidermic cells with 
which they are covered; but when dry they are hard and 
brittle. They are ordinarily white in colour, or in excep- 
tional cases slightly specked with grey or black patches ; but 
in the fresh state their hue is generally masked by the red 
staining they receive from the colouring matter of the blood 
in the vascular laminae. In every respect they correspond to 
these vascular laminae or podophyllae ; commencing apparently 
at the cavity in the upper border of the wall, and which 
receives the coronary cushion, they proceed downwards in 
parallel longitudinal leaves, proportioned in number, length, 
and width to those to which they are opposed, and with which 
they are dovetailed. 
Consequently, they are narrowest, and their interspaces are 
shallowest at their upper part ; while below, they pass down 
to the junction of the wall with the sole, whose thickness 
they traverse ; they are also ranged inside the inflexures or bars, 
to fit into the leaves on the inner aspect of the wings of the 
os pedis. Like the vascular laminae, they vary in width, 
here and there one being found narrower than the others. 
The bottoms of the interspaces also not unfrequently appear 
to offer small openings, which pierce the wall or margin of 
the sole obliquely downwards, and receive the papillae that 
we have already remarked as sometimes given off from the 
free border of the podophylla at various elevations. These 
minute apertures are more particularly noticed at the lower 
extremity of the interlaminal spaces, where they are occupied 
by the papillae which terminate the vascular leaves. 
It has been commonly asserted that the sides of these 
horny laminae are perfectly smooth ; and even were this state- 
ment correct, their coaptation with those on the os pedis 
w'ould appear sufficiently wonderful. If we can fancy two 
volumes, each with about six hundred leaves of vellum, 
slightly moistened, and locked together leaf by leaf, we 
may form some idea of the arrangement of the two sets of 
laminae. 
But their sides are not smooth ; they are covered with a 
crowd of secondary leaves or 1 laminellae’ which interlock or 
interdigitate with those on the vascular laminae, and which I 
