ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE^S FOOT. 465 
drawing, which represents five entire and the sides of two 
other horny laminae, as well as seven vascular ones — all 
in situ. It will be observed that each horny lamina looks 
like the frond of a fern, a feather with its barbules, or the 
branchial processes of the gill of the eel. The number of 
these lamellae on each side of a lamina varies considerably. 
I have counted more than fifty. They appear to be formed 
by the divergence, at certain intervals, of the compressed or 
fusiform cells composing the lamina and the cells on the 
inner aspect of the wall in the interlamellar spaces. These 
are thrown out at an angle more or less acute, and receive 
between them similar processes or leaflets from the vascular 
laminse. If the extremity of a transverse section of a horny 
lamina be examined by a high magnifying power it will be 
found to offer an appearance like that shown in fig. 18, which 
is drawn from the actual object. 
The delicate leaflets on the kerapliyllous tissue are composed 
as stated, of epidermic cells, and often show pigment-granules ; 
they comport themselves by polarised light like the other horny 
parts of the foot, though not so strikingly, probably from their 
Fig. 18. — Termination of a horny lamina between two vascular ones, a, a. 
Vascular laminae. b. Horny lamina, c, c. Horny lamellae. //, d. 
Lamellae of the vascular laminae. Highly magnified. 
extreme tenuity. The carmine fluid slightly stains their 
margins, and, of course, deeply tinges the processes and 
body of each vascular lamina. In the fresh state, between 
