308 
ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 
and eversion of the outer flakes of horn around its junction with 
the wall below. Externally, it assumes the same character as 
the wall below it; but its internal surface is altogether different. 
Instead of possessing laminae, the surface is smooth and uni¬ 
formly excavated, being moulded to the form of the sensitive co¬ 
ronet, and everywhere presenting numerous pores for the purpose 
of receiving the secreting villi. Superiorly, the coronary border 
presents two edges, having a groove between them for the recep¬ 
tion of the terminating border of the cutis. It is this groove 
that marks, superiorly, the separation of the coronary border into 
two parts : the internal edge belonging to the inner part, which 
is the beginning of the wall itself; the external edge to the white 
band by which the other is embraced, and to which Mr. Clark 
has in particular drawn our attention, under the appellation of 
Coronary Frog-band .—It covers the proper or veritable coro¬ 
nary border of the hoof; having, through its fibres, which are 
very fine, a sort of dove-tailed connexion with it. As it recedes 
backward, if grows broader to that degree, that its breadth at 
length becomes doubled ; being about half an inch broad in front, 
and one inch behind. It is thickest around its middle parts; 
its inferior edge, like the superior, becoming attenuated, until it 
grows so fine as to eud in imperceptible union with the substance 
of the wall, giving it its beautifully polished surface: from the 
heat, however, to which the hoof is artificially exposed, the thin 
part below the coronet ofte n grows arid, splits from the crust, 
and becomes everted ; turning at the same time, in consequence 
of dryness, of a whitish complexion. Posteriorly, we find it 
continued round the heels of the wall and frog, and from thence 
across the back of the cleft, forming altogether a complete cir¬ 
cle, and everywhere shewing itself to be the medium of connexion 
between the skin and the hoof. It has been already stated that 
the cutis terminates in a circular border, let into a groove around 
the summit of the wall: the cuticle, however, does not end here— 
it is continued down ; in fact, we trace it into the horny band we 
have been describing, the one being continuous in substance with 
the other. Indeed, the only detectible differences in them are, 
that one is thicker than the other, and grows hard, and dry, and 
white, from the effects of heat upon it from without, and the want 
of moisture from within. This cuticular origin and assimilation 
may be demonstrated in the putrefied foot; or, better still, in the 
foot of the foetus. The band is broader at the heels than else¬ 
where, in consequence of the greater breadth of exposed cutis at 
those parts. In its texture it is fibrous, and its fibres pursue the 
same direction as those of the wall, from which they differ only 
in being of a finer texture. Mr. Bracy Clark appears to enter- 
