SAND-CRACK. 299 



by parinp; the sole and raspin- the quarters, and usinp; the shoe without 

 nails on the inner quarter. This is a case, however which must be turned 

 over to the veterinary surgeon, for he alone, from his knowledge of the 

 anatomy of the foot, and the precise seat of the disease, is competent to 

 treat it If attacked on its earliest appearance, and before ulceration ot 

 the membrane of the joint has taken place, it may be radically cured, but 

 ulceration of the membrane will be with difficulty healed, and caries of the 

 bone will for ever remain. Blistering the coronet will often assist in pro- 

 niotino- a cure by diverting the inflammation to another part, and it will 

 materfally quicken the growth of the horn ; and a seton passed through 

 the frog by a skilful operator, and approaching as nearly as possible to the 

 seat of'disease, has been serviceable. ' ,/.,.. 



In cases of old contraction, attended by a short and feeling step, Jieuro- 

 tomv, or the cutting out of a portion of the nerve, (for an explanation ot 

 the nature and effects of which see page 110,) may be resorted to with 

 decided advantage. Not only will the lameness be removed, but, by the 

 foot being again brought fully and firmly upon the ground, the inner side 

 of the shoe* being unfettered by nails, a portion of the contraction may be 

 removed by the sole being allowed to descend and the foot to expand at 

 each contact with the ground. , t u i 



Even when the navicular joint is particularly suspected, it there be no 

 apparent inflammation, (and that would be readily detected by the heat of 

 the foot,) neurotomy may be practised with the hope ot alleviating the suf- 

 ferings of the animal, and thus removing a portion of the lameness ; but if 

 the lameness be extreme, either with or without contraction, and especially 

 if there be heat about the foot, the operation is dangerous. There is, pro- 

 bably, ulceration of the membrane — possibly, decay of the bone ; and the 

 additional friction to which the parts would be subjected, by the freer action 

 of the horse, the sense of pain being removed, would cause that ulceration 

 or decay to proceed more rapidly until the foot would be completely disor- 

 ganized, or the tendon would be gradually worn through by rubbing against 

 the roughened surface of the bone. 



SAND-CRACK. 



This, as its name imports, is a crack or division of the hoof from above 

 downward, and into which sand and dirt are too apt to insinuate them- 

 selves ; or, as some say, because it most frequently occurs in sandy dis- 

 tricts, the heat of the sand applied to the feet, giving them a disposition 

 to crack. They occur both in the fore and the hind feet. In the fore feet 

 they are usually found in the inner quarter (see g, p. 254), but occasionally 

 in the outer quarter, because at the quarter is the principal stress or effort 

 towards expansion in the foot, and the inner quarter is weaker than the 

 outer. In the hind feet the crack is almost invariably found in the front, 

 because in the digging of the toe into the ground in the act of drawing, 

 the principal stress is in front. 



This is a most serious defect. It indicates a brittleness of the crust, 

 sometimes natural, but oftener the consequence of mismanagement or dis- 

 ease, which, in spite of every means adopted, will probably be the source of 

 • future annoyance. On a hoof that has once been thus divided no de]K:nd- 

 ence can be placed, unless, by great care, the natural suppleness of the 

 horn has been restored and is retained. 



Sand-crack may happen in an instant from a false step or over-exertion ; 

 and therefore a horse, although he may spring a sand-crack within an 

 hour after the purchase, cannot be returned on that account. 



