U7 



and bran mashes. During this time, the edges, of the crack should be 

 carefully pared, so as to allow of the escape of all irritating mud, and foul 

 matter. When this is washed .away, the inflamed sensitive tissue beneath 

 may become visible. It will be advisable to have the foot poulticed for a 

 day or two after this operation. 



When by these measures the inflammation and consequent pain have in 

 a few days subsided, it is our object to promote the growth of new healthy 

 horn to fill up the crack from beneath ; forthe edges of the wound cannot become 

 structurally united. Bar-shoes of a fair thickness may now be applied, and 

 care must be taken to remove pressure from that part of the foot, 

 immediately opposi.c to the fissure. When the crack extends as high as the 

 coronet, it is customary to pare away a groove between the upper end of the 

 fissure and the coronet, so as to divide the fissured horn from the substance 

 which forms the new horn. A leathern strap or tarred twine may now be 

 applied tightly round the hoof if necessary, or a clasp may be used. There 

 are two operations which may be performed for the cure of sandcrack. The 

 first, only performed in very bad cases of long standing, is applicable when 

 the cracks extend as high as the coronet. It is termed the stripping method, 

 and consists in making two grooves, each beginning at the coronet about 

 half an inch to an inch on either side of the upper end of the fissure, and 

 joining together at the other extremity of the fissure at an angle of about 

 -jd". The whole of the horn enclosed within this V-shaped area is then 

 stripped off. and the part exposed is protected by the application of a strap. 



€</.^ 



In those cases where the fissure extends below the junction of the 

 grooves, the horn may be pared away below it also. The animal must now 

 be rested until the gap is filled with newly secreted horn. In the meantime, 

 the foot should be carefully bandaged and dressed with some mild astringent 

 lotion. The coronet may be blistered so as to stimulate it to increased 

 .secreting activity, with an oin inent of one part of biniodide of mercury and 

 two of lard. The time taken for a sandcrack to grow up completely from 

 the base, is about nine or ten months. The clasping method is in most 



