Chap. XCVI. Of cajiing the Hoof. 259 



(hould be opened once in three or four Days, that the Cleft 

 may be drefs'd ; and to prevent anylnconveniency that can 

 happen by the opening, a thin Staple may be alfo con- 

 triv'd with Points hke Horfe-fhoe Nails, caft off obliquely, 

 to take a ilender Hold, the Plate of it crofling the Cleft 

 where Part of the Shoe is cut off, and the Nails coming 

 out on each fide of the Cleft on the upper Part, to be rivet- 

 ted as the other Nails. By this Method, a Cleft m any 

 Part of the Hoof may eafily be cured, if the Horfe be not ' 

 very old or difeafed. 



CHAP. XCVI. 



Of cajihig the Hoof 



TH E Lofs of the Hoof is occafioned by Pricks, Stubs, 

 Foundering, Surbating, or whatever Accident may 

 bring anlmoofthumation into the Foot, whereby the whole 

 Coffin of the Hoof becomes loofencd, and falls oft from 

 the Bone ; and fometimes the Coffin-bone, which is Ipon- 

 cry and eafily broke, falls off in large Pieces along with the 

 Hoof; but this is a very defperate Cafe, fince a pertett 

 Foot can never be form'd after fo great a Lofs ; but a new 

 Hoof may be procur'd with Care and proper Applications, 

 if the Coffin-bone, b'f. be not injur'd. ^ 



The ufual Method to procure a new Hoof, is to appiy 

 to the Coffin, Tar, Turpentine, Wax, Oil, Pitch, and luch 

 thinp-s, melted together ; then they make a Boot of Lea- 

 ther: with a ffroni Soal, to be lac'd faff about the Paftern, 

 bolftering and ftoppmg the Foot with foft Flax, that the 

 Tread may be eafy, renewing theDreffing every Day un- 

 til the new Hoof grow. The Boot is certainly very pro- 

 per, but the Ointment will not always be fufficient to make 

 a found and fmooih Hoof, and therefore if the Part grow 

 fungous, which is very common, and, in a great Mealure, 

 the Caufe of all the ill Shape and Unevennels ot the new 

 Hoof, (harper Applications ought to be made ufe ot i tor 

 which Purpofe we recommend the following. 



" Take of Rofm half a Pound, Oil Olive one Pound : 

 « Diffolve the Rofm in the Oil over a gentle Fire ; take it 

 ^' off, and w^hen it begins to cool, add Myrrh, Aloes, 

 ^' Maftich, and Olibanum in fine Powder, of each two 

 ^^' Ounces, and make it into an Ointment, ^^ 



