1/8 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



contraction given equally as much attention as the sand- 

 crack itself. 



Where the crack is situated far back in the quarter, and 

 easing of the bearing cannot be accomplished without tend- 

 ing to spring the heels, then the most suitable shoe is a 

 bar shoe. With it the bearing may, of course, be eased in 

 exactly the position required, and the heels still allowed to 

 take their fair share in bearing the body-weight, and thus 

 assist in closing the crack. The bar shoe, if properly fitted, 

 gives us also a bearing on the frog, and aids greatly in 

 counteracting contraction. 



2. Curative. 



(a) The Application of Dressings to the Lesion. — In the 

 case of a recent crack, deep, and attended with haemorrhage, 

 the foot should be thoroughly cleansed. Where possible, 

 a constant flow of cold water from a hose-pipe should be 

 allowed to run over the foot. By this means the inflam- 

 matory symptoms will be held in check and pain prevented. 

 Later the shoe may be eased at the required place, and a 

 blister applied to the coronet. This, with rest, will some- 

 times prove all that is needed. 



Should a crack be of old standing, and complicated by 

 the pressure of pus, a course of hot poulticing will often 

 prove of benefit. The poultice should be medicated with 

 any reliable disinfectant, and should be renewed, or at any 

 rate reheated, two or three times daily. The crack itself 

 should be thoroughly cleaned after the removal of each 

 poultice, and a concentrated antiseptic solution — such as 

 Tuson's spts. hydrarg. perchlor., carbolic acid, and water, 

 (I in 10) or liquor zinci chlor. — poured into it. On dis- 

 continuing the poulticing, the strength of the antiseptic 

 solutions may be decreased, the parts rested by correct 

 shoeing, and a blister applied to the coronet as before. 



If these measures alone should prove insufficient, then 

 the surgeon will either fall back on those we have just 

 related, or proceed to methods next to be described. 



(b) Immobilizing the Crack by Means of grooving the 

 Wall. — To our minds, this is as ready and withal as success- 



