ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE ; S FOOT. 729 
which they are so closely connected, we will notice some 
other peculiarities in their structure. 
In the meantime, it may be well to remember that the 
lower ends of the laminae terminate in comparatively large 
papillae, like those on the coronary cushion. Not only is 
this the case, but frequently we find one or more long 
papillae springing from the free border of the laminae at 
various heights. These are in structure like those on the 
coronary cushion. 
Integument Covering the Sole . — The membrane covering 
the sole of the os pedis and the inferior surface of the plantar 
cushion, and which has usually been designated by farriers 
the “ fleshy,” “ velvety,” or “ vascular sole,” is only a con- 
tinuation of the derm, or rather dermo-perioste, investing the 
face of the bone. It is of a bright red colour, like the other 
parts of this membrane, though this tint is not unfrequently 
concealed, or partly obscured in patches by dark-coloured 
pigment cells diffused in its structure. 
The membrane itself is composed of the same elements as 
elsewhere ; and towards its surface its fibres are closely and 
densely woven, affording support to the myriads of arteries 
which course about and give rise to those elegant vascular 
reticulations before described. 
On the sole of the bone the membrane is much thicker 
than it is on the plantar cushion, from the circumstance that 
on the latter it is not confluent with the periosteum, having 
separated from it on leaving the os pedis. 
The face of this tegumentary covering of the sole is, like 
that of the coronary cushion, thickly set with papillae, which 
stand above it as close as the pile of the finest velvet, and 
may be displayed most distinctly by suspending the foot in 
water. They possess the same features as the papillae of the 
coronary cushion, each consisting of a. basement membrane, 
enveloping a conical, fibrous framework, which supports a 
delicate arrangement of blood-vessels, derived from the larger 
canals, coursing everywhere over the sole, with nerves, and, 
in all probability, lymphatic vessels. Around the circum- 
ference of the foot they are longest and most widely apart, 
agreeing in this respect with those which terminate the 
laminae in this region. Towards the centre of the sole, and 
on the plantar cushion, they are finest and closest, and their 
networks of vessels are consequently less developed. All, 
including the terminal papillae of the laminae, in their natural 
condition are directed downwards and forwards at about the 
same angle as the front face of the os pedis. 
These various parts of the foot, which may be designated 
