190 



THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



will, also, produce tlie same result. When a horse shod 

 with heel calkius overreaches himself, that is, treads on his 

 hoof with another foot and bruises the coronet or crust, the 

 crease thus made often extends itself until the crust is 

 entirely split. 



Toe cracks g-enerally attack the feet of heavy draught 

 horses. This is doubtless owing" to the careless method of 

 applying their shoes, as well as to the fact that in drawing 

 heavy loads a greater stress is placed upon their toes than 



Fig. 103— Showing How the. Groove is Cut at the Toe in Shoeing for Split Hoof. 



upon those of other horses. In treating this disease the 

 first care must be to thoroughly cleanse the foot, after 

 which the crack must be pared out smoothly on either side 

 of the crack as deep as the horny substance extends, thus 

 widening the crevice so as to prevent all friction between 

 the separated parts of the wall. Pressure must be taken 

 entirel}^ off the toe, and a groove, as shown in Fig. 103 of 

 the accompanying illustrations, should be cut into the hot-, 

 tom of the crust at the toe. | 



Having done this, if the foot be contracted at the heel,' 



