rn extends from the coronary band to the lower border of
the hoof. (Plate XXXII, fig. 1.)

The hoof is a box of horn, consisting of a wall, sole, and frog, and
contains, besides the coffin, navicular, and part of the small pastern
bones, the sensitive laminae, plantar cushion, and the lateral
cartilages. (Plate XXXIII, fig. 4.)

The sole of the foot incloses the box on the ground surface, is shaped
like the circumference of the foot, except that a V-shaped opening is
left behind for the reception of the frog, and is concave on the lower
surface. The sole is produced by the velvety tissue, a thin membrane
covering the plantar cushion and other soft tissues beneath the coffin
bone. The horn of the sole differs from the horn of the wall in that its
tubes are not straight and from the fact that it scales off in pieces
over the whole surface.

The frog is a triangular-shaped body, divided into two equal parts by a
deep fissure, extending from its apex in front to the base. It fills the
triangular space in the sole, to which it is intimately attached by its
borders. The horn of the frog is produced in the same manner as the
sole; but it differs from both the wall and sole in that the horn is
soft, moist, and elastic to a remarkable degree. It is the function of
the frog to destroy shock and to prevent slipping.

The sensitive laminae are thin plates of soft tissue covering the entire
anterior surface of the coffin bone. They are present in great numbers,
and by fitting into corresponding grooves on the inner surface of the
horn of the wall the union of the soft and horny tissues is made
complete. (Plate XXXII, fig. 1.)

The plantar cushion is a thick pad of fibrous tissue placed behind and
under the navicular and coffin bones and resting on the sole and frog,
for the purpose of receiving the downward pressure of the column of
bones and to destroy shock. (Plate XXXII, fig. 4.)

The lateral cartilages are attached, one on each side, to the wings of
the coffin bone by their inferior borders. They are thin plates of
fibro-cartilage, and their function is to assist the frog and adjacent
structures to regain their proper position after having been displaced
by the weight of the body while the foot rested on the ground. (Plate
XXXII, fig. 2.)

FAULTS OF CONFORMATION.

A large percentage of horses have feet which are not perfect in
conformation, and as a consequence they are especially predisposed to
certain injuries and