318 
ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 
The Sole, as well as the wall, is fibrous in its structure ; 
but its fibres appear to be of a finer quality, and, in course, are 
very much shorter: they, however, take an oblique direction, from 
behind forwards, following the same degree of slope as those of 
the wall. They issue from the villi penetrating the superior 
surface. To the fineness of its fibres, combined with the relative 
magnitude of the tubular canals, and consequent relative pro¬ 
portions of horny and gelatinous substances, may be ascribed the 
comparative softness and elasticity of the sole. 
The Frog, however, displays these qualities in such a remark¬ 
able degree as to appear, in fact, to be composed of quite another 
kind of horn ; though, on examination, we find it to evince the 
same fibrous structure, the only perceivable differences being 
the comparative fineness of the fibres and their proportion- 
ably greater tubularity: their direction is oblique, correspondent 
with those of the wall. 
Production of the Hoof 
The wall is produced by the coronary circle , a sensitive and 
glandular part we shall have occasion soon to examine. Its villi , 
by some peculiar, mysterious, secretory process convert the blood 
circulating through them into a softpulpy gelatinous matter, which 
by exposure becomes hard horn, descending from the villous point 
that produced it, in the form of a tubular fibre, down to the sole. 
The fibres are united together at their very origin, but their 
tubes or canals diminish the lower they descend ; which accounts 
for the porous or honeycomb-like structure of the interior of the 
coronary border and the comparative solidity of the parts below. 
The outer layers or strata of fibres are found to be more compact 
and of closer texture than the inner ; which arises, in part, from 
the villi producing them being removed to a greater distance, 
and to the comparative smallness of their canals, and which, con¬ 
sequently, the sooner become obliterated. The use of Mr. 
Clark’s coronary frog-band becomes now more apparent, serving, 
as it evidently does, to cover and protect these external fibres 
until they grow sufficiently firm and solid themselves to bear 
exposure and resist casualities. 
The sensitive laminae make no addition to the substance or 
thickness of the wall : they simply produce the horny lamellae 
arranged along its interior; as one proof of which, the wall 
measures as much in thickness at the place where it quits the 
coronet as it does at any point lower down. Other demon¬ 
strations of this fact come every day before such practitioners as 
have .to treat canker, quittor, sandcrack, and other diseases of 
the feet. 
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