366 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



coarse texture. When these conditions are associated with undue dryness, 

 as occurs in the heat of summer, and in horses whose feet are in a chronic 

 febrile condition, the liability to crack is much increased. The exciting 

 causes are concussion and strain to the feet under draught or on slippery 

 ground. It may also be induced by treads over the coronet. 



Horses with high action in front suffer more than others of less showy 

 gait, and especially when overladen with flesh and indulged in too much 

 rest and standing. 



Symptoms. Cracks usually commence at the coronet, and extend 

 downward. When slight they are frequently covered with overhanging 

 hair, and for a time evade detection. If the animal be continued in work, 



they increase in length and depth day by day, 

 and extend through the crust to the quick. In 

 this condition the lameness at first only slight 

 becomes severe, owing to the sensitive struc- 

 tures being torn and pinched between the edges 

 of the fissure. Blood may ooze from the 

 line of the crack, and if neglected, fungous 

 growth (proud flesh) sprouts out, and 

 with it an offensive discharge of pus or 

 " matter ". Lameness in this disease is 

 always present where the rent reaches 

 the sensitive parts. It is aggravated by 

 fast movement, and when ascending or 

 descending a hill. In those cases where 

 cracks are superficial, they may continue and grow out without causing 

 inconvenience. 



Treatment. For the radical treatment of sand crack the horse should 

 be thrown out of work, the edges of the crack pared away from top to 

 bottom, and the sensitive parts thoroughly cleansed and dressed with anti- 

 septic solution. With a view to prevent the fissure extending downward, 

 a groove should be burnt into the hoof across the line of the crack below. 

 This may be done with an ordinary firing iron. All that is now required 

 is to protect the wound from dirt by cotton-wool secured by means of 

 tape, and to dress it repeatedly with a solution of carbolic acid. The 

 growth of horn should be stimulated by the application of a mild blister 

 over the coronet, and this may be repeated twice or thrice at intervals of 

 ten days if necessary. 



Where it is desired to continue the horse in work, various expedients are 

 resorted to for keeping the edges of the crack together and preventing 

 movement. This may be effected by drilling one or more holes through the 



Fig'. 387. Sand Crack 



