THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XLIV. 
No. 520. 
APRIL, 1871. 
Fourth Series. 
No. 196. 
Communications and Cases. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE ANATOMY AND 
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
By George Fleming, M.R.C.V.S., Royal Engineers. 
(Continued from p. 158.) 
Ihe hoof of the hind foot . — With the exceptions already 
noted, there is no marked difference between the hind and 
the fore foot, so far as its internal or vascular structures are 
concerned. The tegumentary covering is, of course, more 
extensive in the latter than the former, to correspond with 
the larger superficies of the elastic apparatus and the os pedis. 
It is not until we compare the hoofs of the thoracic and the 
abdominal limbs, that we observe anything particularly strik- 
ing, and here we have a notable divergence in the general 
configuration. The hoof of the hind foot is more elongated 
from before to behind, and consequently more oval, than that 
of the fore extremity ; the heels are also lower, which makes 
this hoof appear to be higher at the toe than the fore one. 
The sole is more concave on its lower surface, and the frog is 
much smaller ; the frog-stay is less developed, and the toe- 
stay is often very small. The wall is not so thick at the toe, 
but is thicker towards the quarters and heels than in the ante- 
rior hoof. Altogether, it may be asserted that the horn of 
the hind hoof is less strong and resisting than that of the 
fore one. 
The hoof as a whole. — Though the shape of the hoof 
has been defined as above, and though this is the conforma- 
tion of the majority of well-formed feet, yet it must not be 
forgotten that not only do different countries afford different 
shaped types, each well adapted to the circumstances under 
XLIV'. 18 
