CRACKED HEELS. 169 



In the exaggerated form of this disease, the use of 

 the lotion above recommended will be useless. The 

 grapy excrescences must be removed with the knife, 

 and then seared with a hot iron sufficiently to stop the 

 bleeding ; and if the case seem very hopeless, it would 

 be well to try the effect of arsenic, in doses of from 

 five to eight grains per day, which has performed won- 

 derful cures when all else had failed. It should, how- 

 ever, be used carefully, and not be continued too 

 long. 



CRACKED HEELS. 



Cracked heels are well known in every stable in the 

 land as one of the greatest banes that horses in work 

 are afflicted with. It consists of cracks in the posterior 

 and inferior parts of the pastern immediately above 

 the heel, from which flows a watery, and at times, a 

 greasy discharge, which is sometimes accompanied by 

 bleeding. There is nothing more painful, for when 

 the horse is in action the old cracks open, and new 

 ones are very frequently caused, unless the skin had 

 been previously saturated with some emollient applica- 

 tion, of which glycerine is by far the best known. The 

 most frequent cause of cracked heels is unprepared for 

 exertion. If you take a colt up and work him hard, 

 his heels will be sure to crack in spite of the best treat- 

 ment and grooming. It is the fashion to attribute its 

 existence to want of rubbing the heels when drying or 

 evaporating, after being washed. Indeed, I have heard 



