254 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



increase of the oily secretion of the skin. The hollow of the 

 pasterns is the part where the cracks usually occur, and the 

 tendency of this part to become affected is greatly increased by 

 trimming the heels, and exposing the skin to cold and damp ; 

 sometimes it may be due to derangement of the stomach. 

 Cracked heels are much more common in cold, wet weather, 

 and especially if the horse is working on muddy, chalky, or 

 sandy ground ; also if the legs and feet are washed with cold 

 water and not thoroughly dried. There are great pain and 

 lameness, the horse going on the toes, the cracks in the skin 

 discharging a watery fluid, and even bleeding when the horse 

 is moving. When the pastern is handled the horse jerks up 

 his leg, which often becomes swollen above the fetlock. It is 

 customary in big towns, during the winter, when the roads are 

 slippery, to melt the ice on the track of tramways by sprinkling 

 salt ; this, mixing with the mud, produces a very acrid com- 

 pound, which is particularly active in producing cracked heels, 

 and even sloughing of the skin. 



Treatment. In very mild cases a little oxide of zinc oint- 

 ment, or carbolised oil, may be rubbed into the skin once or 

 twice a day; if the skin is broken it should be thoroughly 

 cleansed by washing with soap and water before applying 

 these. Should the inflammation be rather intense, and the 

 lameness great, after washing, a linseed-meal poultice should 

 be applied for a day or two, when the dressing may be used. 

 Should the cracks show a tendency to become chronic, they 

 may be touched with nitrate of silver or pure carbolic acid, 

 after which the ointment or carbolised oil may be applied ; 

 pledgets of tow, smeared with these, may be tied round the 

 pastern. In very bad cases, the application of a high-heeled 

 shoe will greatly expedite recovery. To prevent cracked heels, 

 a little vaseline or lard rubbed into the hollows of the pasterns, 

 and around the coronets, is very useful. To prevent injury 

 from salted roads, white lead, made into a thin paste with 



