114 



THE ART OF HORSE-SHOEING. 



upon tlie clips, and sometimes one breaks. It is there- 

 fore necessary always to use two, and for an extensive 

 crack three may be employed. 



All these appliances tend to keep the lips of the crack 

 from separating, but they do not prevent the edges of a 

 deep, wide crack from being forced together, and thus 

 pinching the sensitive parts. To provide against this 

 injury, a slij) of hard wood may be fitted into the crack, 

 and then the nails or clips may be more safely drawn 

 tight without fear of injury, and with a better chance of 

 preventing any movement in the edges of the crack. To 

 insert the wood, the crack is converted into a groove 

 nearly as deep as the wall, about three-eighths of an inch 

 wide, with straight sides, or, better still, with a little 

 greater width at the bottom than at the surface. ■ Into 

 such a groove, a piece of wood formed to fit it is gently 

 driven from below and rasped off to fit exactly. Or 

 softened gutta-percha may be pressed firmly into the 

 space and levelled off when cold. . 



To "cut out " a sandcrack, except for the purpose of 

 refilling it, is bad practice, as it favors movement and 

 helps to make the defect permanent. To rasp away the 

 horn so that only a thin layer is left is also injurious. 



Fig. 89.— Shoe with heel clips for sandcrack. 



No horn should be removed, except for the fitting of a 

 plug, as above described, or, under veterinary direction, 

 for the x^urpose of giving vent to matter which has 

 formed within the hoof. 



