500 CHAPTER Ho. 



tlie covnnary ])and. In cases where llie disease lias ori<;-inaled in a corn 

 or in injury to the sole, the sole should also he ]>Hred out thin. In cuses 

 which are taken early, these measures will <x\vo ininicdiate and sufficient 

 relief. 



But when the disease has been ne<z:lected, it becomes formidable. The 

 fistulge or sinuses caused by the pent-up pus will be found to be numerous, 

 extensive, and ramifying in various directions. In such cases it will be 

 l)est to pass a red-hot probe directly throupfh the sinuses. Care must 

 be taken to secure a dependinfj orifice, and also to avoid injury to the 

 coronary band or rim of the crust. This treatment may seem severe, but 

 it probably causes less pain to the animal than the old-fashioned practice 

 of insertincf pledp^ets of caustic into the sinuses. The actual cautery will 

 cause almost immediate removal of the core or tough membrane which 

 lines the sinuses. No cure can ])e complete until this membrane is 

 destroyed. In two or three weeks the horse ought to be again fit for 

 work. When the (piittor arises from a neglected corn the horn must 

 be pared away, a depending orifice secured, and a seton may be passed 

 through the sinus. 



AVhen the internal disease is removed, the treatment of the mere sore 

 at the coronet is easy. In fact, beyond keeping it clean, applying a 

 simple cold water dressing, and occasionally caustic lotion, little more 

 need be done. Sometimes, however, there is a great tendency to the 

 growth of unhealthy granulations round the sore, which will require to 

 be checked by pressure or caustics, or removed by the knife. 



Great care must in all cases be taken to prevent the external sore 

 from healing over before the internal disease is tJioroiif/hJi/ eradicated. 

 I'^'om the great vascularity of the parts in the neighbourhood of the 

 coronet there is always an over-tendency to the healing action. 



In cases of quittor a J-shoe or a ^-bar shoe should be used in order to 

 lessen the pressure and concussion on the part of the foot affected by the 

 disease. In some cases it may be desirable to apply a complete bar- 

 shoe. It may be necessary to apply a blister to the coronet after the 

 healing process has been conq)leted, especially if any ])art of the crust 

 has been injured. 



1012. SandcracJiS. 



A Sandcrack is a fissure in the crust. It is usually found on the inside 

 in the fore-feet, and in front in the hind feet. In most cases the fissure 

 is due to brittleness of the crust. This l)rittleness may be constitutional, 

 l)ut it is more often due to the evil practice of rasping the CTUst. The 

 fissure may also Ijc due to contraction at the heels. Such contraction 

 may be due to natural causes, but it is certain to be aggravated, if not 

 caused, by the practice of cutting away the bars and so-called '' opening " 

 the heels. Sandcracks «re also found in flat or sprawling feet, and in 

 these cases seem to arise from want of tone in the secretions of the 

 crust, and to want of quality in the horn. 



A sandcraik does not ordinarilv cause lameness until it has become 



