SAND-CRACK. 589 



The treatment we adopt consists in placing the part at 

 rest, which, in some cases, calls for giving total rest to the 

 horse for a period of from thirty to fifty days. The most 

 common custom, and one long adopted, is to apply a bar 

 shoe, by which means it is sought to prevent bearing from 

 being imposed on the injured quarter of the foot, which is 

 partially effected by the frog reposing on the shoe, and 

 thus relieving the quarter of some of the burden. The 

 above we have found to be, at best, only a palliation, 

 and not an effectual remedy, and is admissible only 

 with horses used for moderately slow work for draught. 



Of late years, with our more matured experience and 

 system of shoeing, we have been able to give effectual relief 

 by an application to that part of our art, with little or no 

 deviation from our ordinary method or any additional com- 

 plexity ; the feet are, as in other cases, attended to with 

 reference to their general salutary state, and no case has 

 occurred of late where sand-crack has given us any trouble, 

 or which has not healed and the hoof grown down com- 

 pletely sound, commencing from the time we have adopted 

 the proper means. 



Giving the horse complete rest, without shoes, when 

 practicable, affords the most simple means of curing him 

 with sand-crack ; nothing else being required than treating 

 the feet, as in most cases of lameness we advise. Placing 

 the horse in a loose box, so that he can get free exercise, as 

 has been already repeatedly stated, forms an additional 

 requisite measure for the restoration, and is compatible 

 with the prescribed rest. No binding avails ; and all cutting 

 and exploration should be avoided, especially the practice 

 of firing, which is only a source of pain and injury. 



False quarter, considered along with sand-crack, may be 

 regarded as an attempted distinction without a difference. 



