320 



cause for quarter crack is in the condition of the hoof known as 

 contracted heels. With the contraction and its pressure upon the 

 sensitive structures within the region of the quarters and frog has 

 arisen a low type of inHanimation and the horn has become dry 

 and brittle in this region. The exciting cause in its fracture is 

 found in a hard day's work ui)on a hard, dry road, v.-ith perhaps a 

 suddenly imposed improper distribution of weight, due may be to 

 stepping upon a loose stone or a succession of such evil transfers 

 of weigl^t due to traveling" upon a road that is very rough in its 

 whole extent. Another cause for quarter crack is where the wall 

 is very soft from poulticing or perhaps due to the animal feeding 

 in a pasture that is very moist. When this animal is put to work 

 upon a hard dry street the sudden change from extreme moisture 

 to extreme dryness, combined with hard work will cause the wall 

 to deteriorate and may be the cause of a crack. Unskilful shoeing 

 also plays a part in causing sand crack. Removal of the periople 

 by excessive rasping" is a pre-disposed cause. Cracks or their 

 starting points may also be caused by using too wide a shoe. Poor 

 shoeing" does not cause cracks though as much as many other 

 things, for more depends on the state of the wall and conformation 

 than upon the existing cause. 



Toe Crack. 



This crack is met with nearly always in a heavy animal, in the 

 bind feet, and is directly attributable to starting" a heavy load. 



f^racks of the Sole and Fro^. 



Sand crack of the sole and frog is but seldom met with and then 

 it is in connection with some exceptionally deteriorated quality of 

 the horn, or occurs as the result of a direct injury and from a 

 badly pumiced foot. 



Trealiiieiit. 



In a simple case where the crack is superficial and close under 

 the coronary margin of the wall a sharp cantharides blister to the 

 coronet immediately al)ove it will be very effective, as in this man- 

 ner an increased secretion of the horn is brought about and the 

 crack prevented from becoming longer. No niatter what treat- 

 ment you use a blister a])plied to the coronary margin is always 

 beneficial. To get the best result from a blister it should be re- 

 peated several times and at intervals of about two weeks. Another 

 method known as clamping the crack is usually used where the 

 crack is rather long. There arc a good many different kinds of 

 clami)s and so I will only endeavor to describe one. This clamp 

 called Koster's Sand Crack Clamp, is rather wide with five teeth 

 on each side. A groove is burned on each side of the crack to 

 accommodate tlie jaws of the inslrunicut and tli; clamp itself 

 pressed home by means of a s])ecial jiair of forceps. No clamps 



