ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE IIORSE’s FOOT. 159 
them, with their formative covering, longer than usual. 
Occasionally, though rarely, they are shed and renewed; but 
such shed antlers of a “ heavier ” or castrated deer are 
characterised by the excavation of their base. The normally 
shed antlers of perfect males have the base flat or convex, 
and almost smooth.* * * § In Lapland, the skin of an uncastrated 
male reindeer is worth two of the skins of reindeer that 
have undergone this operation.f 
And it has been recently noted that emasculated fowls do 
not moult. 
Beside the above-mentioned general influences that either 
directly or indirectly modify the corneous secretion, there 
are yet others which, though much more limited in their 
action, produce analogous effects either on a single foot or 
on certain circumscribed regions. Any irritant, such as a 
blister, will cause a more rapid descent of the hoof if applied 
around the coronet: a descent marked also by a thicker circle 
of new horn than is observed in ordinary conditions. This is 
so well known that it is frequently resorted to when it is 
deemed necessary to modify the dimensions, form, or quality 
of the hoof. And this effect may be produced by the action 
of an irritant on any part of the organ; even the presence 
of disease at a limited point will induce a hypersecretion: as 
when the coronary cushion is in an inflamed or congested state 
towards the lateral cartilages, in consequence of abnormal 
changes taking place in these; then we perceive well-defined 
circles growing down from the upper border of the wall at 
the corresponding quarters. Following this indication, when 
the wall has become injured or defective at any part of its 
circumference, the veterinary surgeon produces a similar 
result by applying a stimulant to the coronet, and thus expe¬ 
dites the formation of new horn to repair the damage or 
defect. Accidental causes, such as bruises, violent pressure, 
burns, punctures, &c., which determine a general or partial 
influx of blood to the horn-producing apparatus, no matter 
how transitory their immediate action may be, yet leave 
their traces on the exterior or interior of the horny box in 
the form of rings, KeracelesJ Keraphylloceles,§ or intra- 
corneous sanguine suffusion. 
* Owen, ‘Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates/ vol. iii, 
p. 631. 
f Clark, ‘Travels in Various Countries of Scandinavia/ vol. i, p. 408. 
f Keracele ( icepag, horn; KtjXrj, tumour), the name given by the dis¬ 
tinguished French Veterinary Professor, Vatel, to a horny tumour on the 
external face of the hoof. 
§ ICeraphyllocele (k epag, horn; fvWov, leaf; tumour), the desig- 
