. The horse and his diseases;. of the fore foot is the thickest and strongest portionof the hoof, and is in consequence less expansive than any other part, and there-fore better calcu-lated to resist theeffects of the nailsand the shoe. Thethickness of thehorn graduallydiminishes to-ward the quartersand heels, particu- a. Is a broad flat mass of horn, projecting upward into the middle of the elastic cush-ion, and called the frog stay. b, b. Are two horny projections rising into thecavity of the hoof formed by the commissures, c. c. Are portions of the same projec-tions, and are situated just u
. The horse and his diseases;. of the fore foot is the thickest and strongest portionof the hoof, and is in consequence less expansive than any other part, and there-fore better calcu-lated to resist theeffects of the nailsand the shoe. Thethickness of thehorn graduallydiminishes to-ward the quartersand heels, particu- a. Is a broad flat mass of horn, projecting upward into the middle of the elastic cush-ion, and called the frog stay. b, b. Are two horny projections rising into thecavity of the hoof formed by the commissures, c. c. Are portions of the same projec-tions, and are situated just under the two ends of the navicular bone, and mark thepoint on either side where diminution in thernatural elasticity of the fatty frog wouldbe felt with the greatest severity by the navicular joint ; for under the most favorablecircumstances, the quantity of cushion between these points and the navicular jointcannot be very large ; and hence the importance of our doing all we can to preserveits elasticity as long as THE HOOF OP THE HORSE. SHOEING. m larly on the inner side of the foot, whereby the power of yield-ing and expanding to the weight of the horse is proportionablyincreased, clearly indicating that those parts cannot be nailedto an unyielding bar of iron, without a most mischievous inter-ference with the natural functions of the foot. In the hind foot,greater thickness of horn will be found at the quarters and heels,than in the fore foot. This difference in the thickness of hornis beautifully adapted to the inequality of the weight whicheach has to sustain, the force with which it is applied, and theportions of the hoof upon which it falls. The toe of the fore foot encounters the combined force andweight of the fore hand and body, and consequently in a stateof nature is exposed to considerable wear and tear, and callsfor greater strength and substance of horn than is needed byany portion of the hind foot, where the duty of supporting thehinder parts alone is
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjecthorses, bookyear1860
