CRACKED HOOF. 287 



WEED. 



This is a disease similar to oedema, but makes its appearance 

 above the hock, and extends downward. The skin is hot, and 

 extremely sensitive to the touch ; so much so that the' animal 

 throws the leg upward and outward as though to escape tor- 

 ture. The veins of the leg are full and corded. 



For treatment, apply warm fomentations to the parts affected, 

 and give a purging ball, followed by the powders recommended 

 in the last disease. 



CBACKED HOOF. 



This disease, also called sand-crack, occurs only in the hoof 

 that is dry, hard, brittle, and contracted. The hoof in a 

 natural, elastic condition can be bruised, but not split up if 

 double the force that splits the dry, contracted hoof is applied. 

 This crack occurs most generally at the quarters, and almost al- 

 ways in the fore feet, they being almost alone subject to con- 

 traction. If the crack extends through the hoof it causes very 

 painful lameness. 



For treatment, the foot must first be carefully examined to 

 see that no dirt has worked in under the hoof ; the loose parts 

 of the horn must be cut away ; a pledget of tow, saturated with 

 sulphate or chloride of zinc, or tincture of myrrh, should be ap- 

 plied, and a bandage carefully put on to keep it in place and 

 keep out the dirt. As soon as the new horn has grown down 

 a little, draw a line across the top of the crack with a draw- 

 incr-knife or firing-iron, anfl apply a little tar or hoof ointment. 

 If the crack is at the toe, a shoe with a band running across 

 from the heels to a little below the coronet in front, and united 



