92 REVIEW.—ON THE CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 
To the three functions likewise generally ascribed to the frog, 
viz. its subserviency to the elasticity of the foot, its use as an ad¬ 
ditional bond of union between the frog and the hoof, and as a pro¬ 
tector to the insertion of the perforans tendon, M. Richard would 
add a fourth, which to him its disposition renders sufficiently 
evident:— 
“After the hoof has been macerated long enough for its consti¬ 
tuent parts to separate one from another, we remark that a circular 
band, proceeding from the frog, encircles the superior border of the 
wall. If the foot of the living horse be immersed in a bath, this 
band becomes distinctly apparent. It serves to prevent the dessic- 
cation of the wall at its union with the skin, to which it firmly ad¬ 
heres itself, and thus materially assists to strengthen the hoof. It 
is something similar to the band woven in socks (for our own feet) 
for the purpose of giving them a set upon the leg after being drawn 
over the instep. 
“ On observing the foot of whatever animal, we cannot but re¬ 
mark that the part which comes upon the ground expands the 
moment pressure is super-imposed, and re-assumes its wonted form 
as soon as it quits the ground. This is as it should be. The sole 
of the foot is provided with tissues of that soft nature that yield to 
pressure. They are of a quilted nature, most proper to protect the 
bones of the foot, their articulations, and the flexor tendons of the 
pasterns. Without this admirable provision of Nature, contusions 
against the ground, or wounds, would have rendered progression 
difficult, if not impossible. It is easy to imagine that this expan¬ 
sion of the foot is as facile as it is natural in every animal whose 
feet are unconfined. But when the feet are encased, as the horse’s 
are, how can we admit the operation of such a principle unless the 
cases be themselves elastic! The horse’s hoof not only admits of 
the dilatation observed in the feet of other animals, but it also 
favours the rapidity of his steps by its retraction, after the manner 
of a bow, and bracing the tissues it envelopes without injuring 
them. It is easy to make this double result intelligible. The bow 
(or spring) formed by the hoof is put upon the stretch the moment 
weight is imposed upon it, and recoils whenever the foot quits the 
ground; consequently it must have some effect in lifting the body 
and accelerating the force of projection. Fit a dancer with an 
elastic pump in imitation of the hoof of the horse, and he will jump 
to admiration; deprive him of this aid, and you will perceive the 
difference. As to what we have said about the tissues of the foot 
being strengthened by such an envelope, nothing is more verifiable. 
We have only to recollect how much better we can travel in shoes 
