128 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 



to promote the growth of the fibrous structure as "well 

 as lubricating it. 



Scmd-Cracks seldom go diagonally, but are either 

 horizontal or vertical. I shall endeavour to exemplify 

 the simple principle of this disease with a simple 

 principle of remedy, dealing wdth it like a split in a 

 board on w^hich I desired to put an effectual stopper. 

 In such a case I should carefully gouge out a small 

 hole at each end of the split, beyond wdiich hole the 

 fissure w^ould be certain not to pass. With the hoof 

 the same principle can be carried out by fihng an in- 

 dentation directly across each end of the crack, only tak- 

 ing care not to file deeper than the insensible part of 

 the hoof ; or the end will be answered by using a red- 

 hot firing-iron instead of a file, taking the same pre- 

 caution not to touch the sensible j)art. I should also 

 weaken along the edges of the crack itself by rasping 

 them dow^n. Over the crack, if deep, should be strapped 

 a thin jDad of tow and tar, to induce reproduction and 

 prevent foreign substances from entering the fissure. 



Unless by the grossest neglect, no sand-crack wdll 

 have been allowed to go beyond the reach of the fore- 

 going treatment, but in some cases the effect of negli- 

 gence and ignorance is seen in the horizontal crack 

 running almost round the foot. In such cases it will 

 generally be found that with a flat foot (inclined to 

 greater malformation) the toes have been suffered to 

 extend, shoeing after shoeing, by the smith allowing 

 a great accumulation of wall over the toe, until the 

 centre has become w^eakened into a fissure. Such a 

 state of things seldom or never occurs in a gentleman's 

 stable, but is to be met with among farm horses or 

 those accustomed to heavy draught. 



