DISEASES OF HORSES. 239 



the bottom of the sinuses, by means of a thin piece of wood, somo 

 of the thrush paste {Vet. Pharm. 133,) smeared on tow, which will 

 enable it to be held within the cleft, especially if it be guarded by 

 splints of wood passed under the shoe ; renew the dressing daily ; 

 turning out to grass may be practised to great advantage for thrushes 

 by this mode of dressing. 



104. Sand cracks are fissures in the hoofs, commonly of those 

 before, and usually towards the inner, but now and then towards 

 the outer quarter also, from above downwards : from the crack, a 

 little oozing of blood or moisture is seen ; and the sensible parts 

 underneath getting between the edges of horn, being pressed on, 

 lame the horse. White recommends to fire the fissure crossways, 

 so as to destroy the connection between the divided and undivided 

 parts of the hoof. 



105. Pricks or punctures of the feet are often very serious evils, 

 either when received by nails in shoeing, or by one picked up in the 

 road, &c. The danger arises from inflammation, which is always 

 great from any injury done to the sensible and viscular parts within 

 the foot. This inflammation quickly proceeds to suppuration ; and 

 the matter is apt to make its way upwards, unless it find a ready 

 vent below. When it does not break out at the coronet, it will 

 often penetrate under the sole, and finally disease the bones, lij^^a- 

 ments, or cartilages, and produce quitter. It is very seldom that a 

 horse is pricked in shoeing, but that the smith is aware of it by the 

 peculiarity of the feel on the hammer, and by the flinching of the 

 animal. At such times were he to immediately draw the nail a little, 

 enlarge the opening, and introduce some spirit within the puncture, 

 nothing would occur ; but on the contrary, he sends the horse home 

 to avoid trouble, who, the next, or following day, is found lame, 

 with his foot hot, if the nail be not driven too near the sensible 

 laminae, it will only require to be removed to free the horse from his 

 evil ; but if it have been driven through, and have wounded them, 

 then suppuration ensues, and on examining the foot by the pincers 

 when the shoe is removed, he will flinch at the pressure on the 

 diseased part. It is probable, on the removal of the shoe that matter 

 will at once flow out at the immediate nail hole, if not, the drawing 

 knife will soon detect the injury. If the heat be great, and instead 

 of matter, bloody dark ichor flows out, wrap the fqot up in a poul 

 lice ; but if healthy matter flows out this will not be necessary , 

 sometimes it is requisite to detach all the horn that is underrun by 

 the matter. But when the injury has not proceeded to this extent, 

 apply over the part a pledget of tow steeped in friar's balsam ; tack 



