Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-12
THE HORSES FOOT.

Peculiar Construction of An Equine Hoof
The Coffin Joint.
The foundation upon which a horse
stands has far more important bear
ing upon his usefulness and value than
men are inclined to admit. We there
fore present letter from a practical
and experienced veterinarian, DR..
Joseph Hirsch, recently located at
Fort Worth, Texas, upon 1.-THE horse
foot" which appeared in recent is
sue of the Texas Lice Stock Journal. A
careful study of this subject will pre-
pare the horseman for intelligent action
when it becomes necessary to correct
defects or diseases in the feet of the
horse The doctor says:
THE horns, claws, nails and hoofs
of animals are all composed of material
similar to hair, and they are often
spoken of as built up of hairs firmly
matted together. The same cell which
forms the scaly epithelium, epidermis
and hair is used in building up the
horny structures.
THE hoof of the horse may be de-
scribed according to its formation, in
three distinct parts, called respectively
the wall SOLE and frog Each
division of the hoof is composed of
horn, differing in texture at different
parts. That which enters into the COM
position of the wall is denser than that
of the other divisions, it is of a fibrous
nature and the tibres taking a longitud-
inal direction from the coronet down.
ward, and are endowed with an elias
ITCHY which fits them to embrace the
complex structure, support weight and
resist wear. The density of the horny
fibres is greatest as they approach the
surface of the wall, the other layers
acting as cuticular covering to defend
the inner from external agencies, such
as dry atmosphere, excessive moist
ure, etc. The depth and strength of
the wall are greatest at the toe. At
the heel it is infected inward, so as to
are named the bars. The sole is the
next division of the hoof, and viewed
in connection with the wall it may be
regarded as the arched support of the
foot. The frog is composed of horn of
a fine, tough texture, more elastic and
pliable than the sole; besides, it covers
all cAQulsibCiN CldStlC vi & duiACd stI uCb"
ure of its own shape. The bones which
enter into the construction of the foot
should be understood with reference to
these particular functions, to the re-
0uired action of these solid parts; all
other structures concerned in the 10
connective functions are made SUBJ
servient.
The bones of the limbs belong to two
distinct orders as regards functions.
one of which, sustaining the weight,
are acted upon and are the levers
which give speed and all motion the
others are formed into projecting pull
leys, buttresseS, and also become levers
in connection with the shafts alluded
to in the first order, of which the can
non, pastern, coronary and pedal bones
constitute those of the foot extremity in
both fore and hind limbs, and of the
latter there are two pairs and two
single bones in each extremity. viz:
The navicular, the two sessamoids and
the two splint bones, with the pisiforne
in the tore and the calcis in the hind
limbs.
'In describing the bones of horses
foot whilst limiting our observations to
the scope of this essay, there are only
three which come under our notice.
These are first the coronet bone, the
foot or coffin bone, and the navicular
bone. BY the connection of these the
coffin joint is formed-a joint exquisite.
ly beautiful, and of the first Importance
in its exactly assigned functions. ~
Farm and Field.