316 THE HORSE 



the ends twisted together, or small nails may be driven 

 through and then clenched ; while a simple method is to 

 bind tarred cord round the hoof, but the drawback to this is 

 its habihty to stretch. The crack itself should be filled with 

 artificial horn made of equal parts of — 



Pitch 1 part 



Gutta-percha ... ... ... ... ... 1 part 



which should be melted in an iron spoon and run into the 

 crack, finally smoothing it over with the bottom of the 

 heated spoon. 



Another plan is to drive in two small nails on each side of 

 the crack, and twist wire tightly round them, in a figure 

 of 8. 



The coronet should be slightly blistered with a mild fly- 

 blister — 



Cantharides ... ... ... ... ... 1 part 



Lard 24 parts 



to stimulate secretion of horn ; and the horse should be 

 shod with a bar shoe, to prevent, as far as possible, any 

 expansion of the hoof. If the animal is at grass in the 

 company of others, and the sand-crack is situated on a 

 hind-foot, so that a bar-shoe might be dangerous in case of 

 kicking, a small clip may yet be used on the outside, near 

 the toe. 



Seedy Toe. 



It is not the outer horn which is affected in seedy toe, 

 but the inner portion, and a space forms between the two, 

 which sounds hollow when rapped with the handle of a 

 pocket-knife or stick. In 1884, Professor Axe discovered 

 a nematode worm in the debris of seedy toe, which has been 

 christened Polodera Axei. Every particle of detached horn 

 should be removed, and the surface dressed with turpentine, 

 or with the lotion directed for Thrush. If the wall of the 

 hoof is left very weak, after using the lotion and allowing 

 the surface to become dry, apply surgeon's diachylon plaster 



