ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE'S FOOT. 11 
other parts excellent, but was unsound in his feet, for then 
he would he unable to render any of his other good qualities 
effective.”* 
And Horace, in one of his famous satires (book ii, Satire 2), 
alludes to the care exercised in the purchase of horses 2000 
years ago : “ This is the custom with men of fortune s when 
they buy horses, they inspect them covered : that if a beauti- 
ful forehand (as very often happens) be supported by a 
tender hoof, it may not take in the buyer, who may be eager 
for the bargain because the back is handsome, the head 
little, and the neck stately.” 
Among hippiatrists and equestrians at all times, this, 
the foundation of the edifice, has been looked upon as 
the most valuable point in the horse when sound and well- 
conformed, and the gravest defect when diseased or naturally 
weak. “ No foot, no horse !” exclaims Jeremiah Bridges, f 
in the middle of the last century ; “ Incerta basis instabile 
sedificium,” writes Bracy Clark “ Pas de Pied, pas de 
Cheval,” says the French proverb. Indeed, the maxims and 
aphorisms in use in later times are but a re-echo of what 
were enunciated ages ago, and their truth receives daily 
confirmation. For the proper manifestation of his strength 
and the full development of his useful qualities, the horse 
must rely upon the soundness of his feet, as in them are 
concentrated the efforts created elsewhere, and upon them 
depend not only the sum-total of these propulsive powers 
being profitably expended, but the solidity and just equili- 
brium of the whole animal fabric is subordinate to their 
integrity. 
It is therefore considered, and justly, that the foot of the 
horse is the most important part of the whole locomotory 
apparatus, and that all the qualities possessed by this 
animal may be depreciated or hopelessly lost, if, through 
disease, natural or acquired defects, or other causes, that 
organ fails to perform its allotted task. It cannot be 
denied that the demands of civilisation, and the artificial 
manner in which the horse is kept and employed, have 
entailed upon it many maladies which might by care and 
skill be averted. More especially is this the case with its 
foot. Indeed, for more than a century it has been asserted 
that nineteen out of every twenty, or ninety-nine out of 
every hundred horses that are lame, are so in this organ; 
* De Re Equestri. 
f ‘No Foot, No Horse: An Essay on the Anatomy of the Eoot of that 
Noble and Useful Animal, a Horse.’ London, 1751. 
% ‘A Series of Original Experiments on the Eoot of the Living Horse. 
London, 1809. 
