234 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER. 



further by bottoming it. This is done by making a groove trans- 

 versely at its superior termination. The firing iron is the most 

 convenient instrument for doing this, and is more successful than 

 cutting. The iron should be made to burn through the wall 

 transversely, until the sensitive structures are almost exposed 

 and the exudation of a little blood seen, indicating that it is 

 almost through. The iron should then be placed in the fissure 

 and its edges smoothed with the red-hot iron from top to bottom. 

 The fissure should be burned enough to set up an irritation. By 

 this method I have even seen the crack unite, though this is held 

 by most to be impossible. 



The irritation caused by firing should be allayed by poultices 

 and fomentations. A bar shoe should be j^laced on the foot in 

 order to have frog jiressure. The wall is to be cut down so that 

 the shoe cannot press upon the crack. Clenches should be ap- 

 plied to hold the crack together while it grows down. The in- 

 strument makers have for sale clenches of various sizes, with 

 pincers and irons to burn the notches in the wall. They are the 

 most convenient and effectual method of holding the cracks to- 

 gether. Brass plates are used and do very well. A handy black- 

 smith can, by cutting notches on both sides, drive and clench a 

 horse nail. The whole secret of success lies in preventing mo- 

 tion of the parts. If the crack be in the toe, side clasps should 

 be used on the shoe. The growth of horn should be stimulated 

 by vesicants. Two drachms of powdered cantharides to three or 

 four ounces of linseed oil mpkes a good dressing to the coronet. 



SEEDY TOE. 



This term is applied to a perverted secretion of horn at the 

 lower margin of the os pedis, by which the crust becomes de- 

 tached from the horny lamina. It is often a result of laminitis, 

 or of the pressure of the clip of the shoe. A small or large por- 

 tion may be affected. In many cases the horn can be readily 

 broken down with the finger and thumb. It gradually spreads, 

 and exists for a long time without lameness. If it be not ar- 

 rested in its course, lameness is certain to appear sooner or later. 



