546 SANDCRACK. 



thick pledget, spread with tar, may be placed ; and if the 

 irritation and inflammation are considerable, apply a poul- 

 tice over all. In case of underrunnings and detachments 

 of horn, the separated portions must be removed ; but as 

 this will seldom happen, the leveUing of more than the 

 horny edges is not often necessary. In a few^ days, by 

 repeating a similar mode of dressing, the dirt will be 

 evacuated, and the parts will heal, harden, and become 

 dry ; when the process about to be recommended for com- 

 mon cases, without suppuration, may be proceeded with. 



When a sandcrack has occurred, which shows no signs 

 of active suppuration, although it have completely pene- 

 trated the horn, and a little blood or serous moisture shows 

 itself at the edges, but only under the effects of motion, 

 proceed to pare away the horn around it ; and next, by 

 means of a camel's-hair pencil, introduce within the edges a 

 small quantity of the solution of chloride of zinc, recom- 

 mended for thrush. Bandage the hoof up moderately tight 

 for two days, then again examine the fissure ; when, if the 

 oozing be altogether stopped, and no inflammation appear, 

 proceed to draw lines of a moderate depth with a sharp 

 firing-iron ; one very little above the upper limit of the 

 crack, another just beyond the lower limit also, and after- 

 wards bandage as directed below. If preferred, these lines 

 of separation may be made with a rasp, or fine drawing- 

 knife ; but we have commonly chosen the iron, as we think 

 the seared line of distinction stronger or more perfect, while 

 the melted horn binds the edges together. But in case no 

 moisture at all has appeared at the crack, then the in- 

 sertion of any caustic matter is unnecessary, and the 

 treatment for this kind of fissure is very simple. The 

 measures necessary for such an injury will be as fol- 

 low^s : — 



The horse being shod with a bar shoe, and the hoof 

 either pared away in a line with the crack ; or otherwise the 

 shoe chambered, so that the horn immediately under the 

 fissure may not be pressed on : proceed to bandage up the 

 foot, so as to fulfil the following intentions: — bring the 

 divided edges of the fissure together, and completely retain 

 them there, in such a manner as totally to exclude mois- 

 ture from entering tlie opening. Whatever mode will 



