306 
ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 
until they reach the centre of the bottom of the foot, where they 
terminate: these inflections or processes of the wall constitute 
the bars. Altogether, the wall may be said to form about two 
thirds of the entire hoof. 
Connexion. —Superiorly, around the coronet, the wall is united 
with the skin; inferiorly, within its circumferent border with the 
sole ; posteriorly, between its heels with the heels of the frog; in¬ 
feriorly, between the bars with the sides of the frog; and 
internally, with the sensitive laminae. Let us now consider the 
wall in its detached or separate state. 
Figure. —That of a hollow cylinder, having the side presented 
to the ground cut much aslant, and whose circle exhibits a hiatus 
or deficiency behind, from the lateral boundaries of which issue 
two narrow processes or appendages. Taking a lateral view, the 
wall assumes a conical shape, being broad and deep in front, and 
gradually narrowing as it stretches backward. 
Division. —For facility of reference, and in aid of our descrip¬ 
tions, we distinguish in the wall. First, the toe; secondly, the 
quarters ; thirdly, the heels ; fourthly, the superior or coronary 
border ; fifthly, the inferior or solar border ; sixthly, the lamina 
or lamella ; lastly, the bars or appendages. 
THE TOE forms the bow or front of the hoof, and compre¬ 
hends about two thirds of the superficies of the wall. It is the 
deepest, broadest, and thickest part of the wall; for reasons that 
will appear hereafter. It exhibits a degree of slant about equal, 
naturally, to an angle of forty-five degrees ; though there are varia¬ 
tions from this which (as was explained before) wall be found, in 
a measure, to be dependent upon the oblique truncation of the 
cylinder. When we come to understand the physiology of this 
part, however, a more operative and efficient cause for this varia¬ 
tion will be found in the weight the wall has to sustain, and in 
its own mechanical strength or force of resistance: on which 
principle it is that light horses, thorough-breds, and poneys, as 
well as mules and asses, have upright or strong feet (i. e.), walls 
but moderately sloped; whereas heavy horses, cart-horses, and 
coach-horses, have commonly flat or weak feet (i. e.), walls that 
slant immoderately. And (as was before, observed) upon the 
degree of obliquity of the wall must very much depend that of 
the pasterns. In estimating the slant or slope of the wall, it 
is proper to distinguish between that which is consequent on the 
detruncation of the hoof, and such as is the effect of a burthen 
under which the wall succumbs. The depth of horn in front 
of the toe, measuring from the termination of the skin to the 
most prominent point below (and supposing the hoof to be cut 
and ready to receive the shoe), may be rated at about three and 
