160 SCIENTIFIC HOKSESHOEING. 



a variety of causes. Hot fitting and clipping, as well as high 

 toes and heels on shoes which prevent the frog from coming in 

 contact with the ground, high heels on foot or shoe, flat feet and 

 long toes on draft horses, and the paring away of the frog, sole, 

 bars and heel, whereby the foot becomes contracted, are pro- 

 lific sources for bringing the hoof into the above-mentioned 

 state. 



Any horse whose feet are thus placed is exposed to fracture 

 either on their anterior or lateral surfaces. With these condi- 

 tions toe crack is produced by the foot acquiring an uneven 

 ground surface, and being thrown into an unnatural or forced 

 position. If the heel of the foot, through ignorance or neglect, 

 is suffered to grow to an unusual height, the pressure and thrust 

 of the cofiin-bone against the front wall will almost surely result 

 in fractunng it in that region. A peculiar accident to which 

 horses are sometimes liable, will also produce the same result. 

 When a horse, being shod with heel calkins, overreaches him- 

 self, that is, treads on his hoof with another foot, and bruises 

 the coronet or crust, the crease thus made oftentimes extends 

 itself until the crust is split from the coronet to the ground 

 surface. 



Toe cracks most generally attack the feet of heavy draft 

 horses, doubtless owing to the coarse method of applying their 

 shoes, as well as a greater stress being placed upon their toes 

 than upon those of other horses in the exertions of drawing 

 heavy loads. 



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, 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 en- 

 tirely off" the toe, and a groove, as in the accompanying figure, 

 should be cut into the bottom of the crust at the toe. 



