360 DADDS VETERINARY MEDICLNE AND SURGERl. 



now applicable, the case being in this stage no more than «e cl 

 dilated sinus in the foot, similar to what might, in another situa- 

 tion, be called quittor. As with the quarter sand-crack, the cure 

 will, of course, be tedious in its duration, since we know that all 

 compfete repair can only come from the coronet. The sensilive 

 laminse havinfj; the power of secreting horny iarainffi, may, as in 

 fhf quarter crack, issue a sort of horny covering-in of the bottom 

 of the fissure ; but fissure or cleft will ever remain so long as an 

 integral formation of horn does not grow down from the source of 

 (secretion. 



Whenever the horse is in a condition for work, a bar-shoe, so 

 made that at the toe the sides of the shoe remain unjoined together, 

 an interval being left of sufficient width to receive the crack in 

 front of the hoof, is, perhaps, the best. Binding the hoof up with 

 circles of w^ax-end, as in the case of quarter sand-crack, with some 

 plaster or dressing underneath it, wdll also now become advisable. 

 It will restrict the spreading inclination of the hoof, as well as 

 keep dirt and wet out of the crack. Repetition of this, and the 

 continuance of the bar-shoe, wdll be required so long as there ap- 

 pears any risk of an extension or renewal of the crack.' " * 



The diseases of the hoof here alluded to are very apt to occur in 

 horses whose walls of the hoof are thin and brittle. They are, to 

 a certain extent, non-elastic, and, therefore, do not ward off the 

 necessary amount of concussion when the animal is traveling over 

 hard roads. At the same time there is always a liability to incip- 

 ient and permanent contraction in such hoof. More especially ia 

 this the case when the foot is mutilated by paring or cutting away 

 the bars (the main stages or supports which prevent the heels 

 approximating). These are the kind of feet on which the but- 

 teris-knife and rasp should be used with great caution ; for, being 

 naturally weak, and perhaps congenitally defective in the function 

 of secreting horn, and the necessary amount of moisture to keep 

 the part pliant, any unnecessary tinkering with such tools is inad- 

 missible. Such hoofs lack moisture; therefore they should be 

 well soaked; night and morning, in warm water ; afterward wiped 

 dry, and then smeared with a portion of the following : 



No. 5"^. Neats-foot oil 8 oz. 



Kerosene 4 oi. 



Lamp-black 1 table-spoonful. 



• London " Veterinarian." 



