1.S2 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



SANDCRACK, 



Is a term applied to a division which is sometimes 

 found in the hoof of the horse, in a direction parallel 

 to its growth, viz., from the coronet downward; and 

 seldom extends more than half way down the wall ; it 

 exists, but very rarely, in an horizontal position. In 

 some cases it is brought on by external injury to the 

 hoof; at others it arises from a brittle state of the 

 horny fibres of the foot. The fore-feet are much more 

 subject to Sandcracks than the hinder ones ; and if the 

 fissure is permitted to increase after once being ob- 

 served, lameness to a considerable extent may occur, 

 and not easily cured. 



Mr. Blaine says, " Whatever injures the vascular 

 coronary origin of the hoof, as treads, cuts, or other 

 lesions of the coronet, may also produce Sandcrack. 

 The fissure is not always of a determined depth, being 

 sometimes so superficial as not to penetrate the whole 

 thickness of the horn and occasioning no inconvenience 

 at first. At others, it exactly extends through the 

 horn, but does not divide any of the sensible parts 

 underneath ; while sometimes again a lesion of some 

 of these takes place : neglect, and a continuance of 

 work will, however, commonly bring any case, from 

 the slightest into the most aggravated state. When 

 the hoof is completely penetrated, it becomes a most 

 painful affection, and productive of extreme lameness ; 

 for the divided edges of the horn are apt, during 

 exercise, to admit the protrusion of the soft parts 

 underneath, which becoming suddenly pressed on by 

 the approximation of the horny edges, exquisite mo- 

 mentary pain is produced. From the injury done to 

 the sensible laminated expansion, there is otlen a 



