DISEASES. 621 



which may be transmitted, and we should object to an animal for 

 breeding- purposes though otherwise well-formed, if he were 

 affected with cracked feet. 



VII. Treatment — Prophylaxy ought to be the principal treat- 

 ment of cracks. It is not always easy, however, to prevent them, 

 and it becomes important therefore, to treat them as soon as they 

 appear. One ought at least to try to prevent them from becoming 

 complete and deep. This form of treatment may bo called the 

 hygienic, as it is not properly curative, and so long as the crack is 

 not yet completely formed, the animal may be kept at work as if 

 everything was normal. Curative treatment is that which is 

 apj)Hed to the deep or complete disease, more or less comj)licated, 

 and it most commonly consists in removing that portion of the 

 wall which bruises and irritates the tissues beneath, and in equal- 

 izing the wound. In general, there is no necessity for haste in 

 operating, the hygienic treatment being often sufficient to obviate 

 the need of serious oj)erations. The distinction between the hygienic 

 and curative treatment is not, however, always definitely marked, 

 and quite often the two modes of treatment must be combined, 

 both the hygienic and the curative being necessary. 



The prophylactic treatment consists specially in the applica- 

 tion of tonics, with the object of preventing the hoof from drying. 

 Its normal hyrogoscopic condition must be preserved, and it must 

 be prevented from taking up too much of the dampness of the 

 ground upon which it travels, as well as from losing that which 

 keeps up its flexibility. At times it must be rendered more moist 

 and, according to the requirements of the case, recourse must be 

 had to hoof ointments and other greasy substances, glycerine and 

 astringent poultices. At the same time the shoeing must be care- 

 fidly attended to ; the shoe must not be too heavy nor too wide, 

 and should be secured by nails of a proper size. 



The hygienic treatment has for its first and principal indica- 

 tions to prevent the solution of continuity from increasing, from 

 extending through healthy structure, and especially to new hoof, 

 as this is secreted by the coronary band. The borders of the 

 cracks must be prevented from separating in the movements of 

 dilatation of the foot. The normal suture of the wall not being 

 produced by the natural process, or at least producing it only in 

 keraphyUocele, which is likely to be as injurious as the crack it- 

 self, the borders of the crack must be brought together artificially. 



