414 SAND-CRACK. 



selves. It is so called, because it most frequently occurs in sandy districts, 

 the lieat of tlie sand applied to the feet giving them a disposition to crack. 

 It occurs both in the fore and the hind-feet. In the fore-feet it is usually 

 found in the inner quarter, but occasionally in the outer quarter, because 

 there is the principal stress or effort towards expansion of the foot, and 

 the inner quarter is weaker than the outer. In the hind-feet the crack is 

 almost invariably found in the front, because in the digging of the toe 

 into the ground in the act of drawing, the principal stress is in the front. 



This is a most serious defect. It indicates a brittleness of the crast, 

 sometimes natural, but oftener the consequence of mismanagement or dis- 

 ease, which, in spite of every means adopted, will probably be the soui'ce 

 of future annoyance. On a hoof that has once been thus divided no, 

 dependence can be placed, unless, by great care, the natural suppleness of 

 the horn has been restored and is retained. 



It is always necessary to examine the inner quarter of the foot at the 

 time of purchase, for it has more than once occurred that, by low dealers, 

 and particularly at fairs, a sand-crack has been neatly covered vnth pitch, 

 and then, the whole of the hoof having been oiled, the injury was so 

 adroitly concealed that an incautious person might be easily deceived. 



The crack sometimes does not penetrate through the horn. It then 

 causes no lameness ; nevertheless, it must not be neglected. It shows that 

 there is brittleness, which should induce the purchaser to pause ; and, if 

 proper means are not taken, it will generally soon penetrate to the quick. 

 It should be pared or rasped fairly out ; and if the paring or rasping has 

 been deep, the foot should be strengthened by a coating of pitch or tar, 

 with coarse tape bound over it, and a second coating of pitch covering 

 this. Every crack should be pared or rasped to ascertain its depth. If it 

 penetrates through the crust, even although no lameness exists, a firing- 

 iron, red-hot, should be passed somewhat deeply above, in order to pre- 

 vent its lengthening — the edges should be thinned to remove any painful 

 or injurious pressure, and the foot should be bound up in the manner 

 directed, ca'^e being taken that the shoe does not press upon the crust 

 unmediately under the sand-crack. 



If the crack has penetrated through the crust, and lameness has ensued, 

 the case is more serious. It must be carefally examined, in order to 

 ascertain that no dirt or sand has got into it ; the edges must be more con- 

 siderably thinned, and if any fungus is beginning to protrude through the 

 crack, and is imprisoned there, it must be destroyed by the application of 

 nitric acid. This is preferable to the cautery, because the edges of the 

 horn will not be thickened or roughened, and thus become a source of 

 after-irritation. The iron may then be run deeply across, above the crack ; a 

 13ledget of dry tow being placed in the crack, in and over it, and the whole 

 bound doAvn as tightly as possible. A bhster applied to the coronet is an 

 useful adjunct, relieving the pain by its counter-irritation, and stimulat- 

 ing the growth of new horn at the same time. On the third day the 

 part should be examined, and the caustic again apphcd if necessary ; but 

 if the crack is dry and defended by a hard horny crust, the sooner the 

 pitch plaster is put on the better. 



The most serious case is, Avhen, from tread or neglect, the coronet is 

 divided. The growth of horn proceeds from the coronary ligament, and 

 unless this ligament is sound, the horn will grow down disunited. 



In this case, as in almost every one of sand-crack, the horse should be 

 kept as quiet as possible. It is not in the power of the sui'geon to effect a 

 perfect cure if the owner will continue to use the animal. When the horn 

 is divided at the coronet, it Avill be several months before it will grow 

 fairly down, and not before that should the animal be used even for ordi- 



