OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
455 
frame are known to do. If muscular fibre and other soft 
structures found their way into the interior of the foot, an 
attack of inflammation would so interfere with its capacities 
that our patients could not endure the hardship required of 
them. If Celsus was correct in the following sentence, “Rubor 
et tumor cum calore et clolore,” we can appreciate the wisdom 
of the great Architect of the universe in providing such 
materials as are found within the hoof. Seat , redness , and 
pain , we know are present in some .complaints of the feet, 
but there cannot be much tumefaction in any case; although 
there is swelling to a certain extent cannot be denied. The 
fact of such numberless blood-vessels entering into the struc¬ 
tures is a sufficient reason for believing such to be the case. 
The peculiar formation of the os pedis gives to the arteries 
and veins every facility to carry on their functions uninter¬ 
ruptedly ; if it were otherwise the animal would be more sus¬ 
ceptible than he is at present of sustaining injury during 
work. How wise all these things are ordered ! 
Horn is found to differ in its texture in many animals, and 
also in the same animal it will be found to differ. 
The horn of the wall and that of the frog is very unlike, 
and these again are different to the sole. The wall is produced 
by the coronary substance; any injury therefore to this part 
of the foot will tend to interfere with its healthy function. 
Would it be too much to suggest that we do not fix our 
attention sufficiently to this part of the foot in our examina¬ 
tions? If the wall is produced at this part, and it is observed 
the secretion of the gland is an unhealthy one, we may fairly 
look to the producer of unhealthy horn and endeavour, if 
possible, to ascertain its disease and find a remdy. 
The bars are other structures which have been dilated upon 
by most horse-keepers, but some persons attach little or no im¬ 
portance to these inflections. If they were not destined to 
perform some special office they would not have been found 
so prominently in their place. The cutting away of these 
stays and opening the heels, as it is termed, are sources of 
great evil to the well-doing of the foot. It is a well- 
ascertained fact that the darker the horn, the better it is. 
{To be continued .) 
