THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XLY. 
No. 530. 
FEBRUARY, 1872. 
Fourth Series. 
No. 206. 
Communications and Cases. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE ANATOMY AND 
PHYSIOLOGY OE THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
By George Fleming, M.R.C.V.S., Royal Engineers. 
Physiology of the Horse’s Foot. 
[Continued from p. 8.) 
The influence of food on the growth of horn is also demon¬ 
strated to a certain extent by turning horses out to graze in 
the early part of the year. With them, in a few months, we 
also find the hoof marked by a prominent ring towards the 
coronet as the effect of increased secretion, due to the change 
of nourishment. But the effects of different kinds of aliment 
on the increase and quality of the horn is a subject that has 
scarcely yet received the attention it deserves, if we consider 
its interest and importance.* 
* The influence of food on the growth of horns and tusks has been hinted 
at by a celebrated explorer, in a work on Ceylon; and as his remarks are of 
interest in connection with the above observations, I will quote them here. 
“ Nothing produces either ivory or horn in fine specimens in Ceylon. 
Although some buffaloes have tolerably fine heads, they will not bear a com¬ 
parison with those of other countries. The horns of the native cattle are 
not above four inches in length. The elk and the spotted deer’s antlers are 
small compared with deer of their size on the Continent of India. This is 
the more singular, as it is evident from the geological formation that at 
some remote period Ceylon was not an island, but formed a portion of the 
mainland, from which it is now only separated by a shallow and rocky 
channel of some few miles. In India the bull elephants have tusks, and the 
cattle and buffaloes have very large horns. My opinion is that there are 
elements wanting in the Ceylon pasturage (which is generally poor) for the 
formation of both horn and ivory.”—Baker, ‘ Eight Years’ Wanderings in 
Ceylon,’ p. 151. 
XLV. 
7 
