SAND-CRACK. 261 



SAND-CRACK. 



Connected with brittleness of the hoof, and usually 

 produced by it, is a fissure or longitudinal crack in 

 the crust It may be produced in a moment — one 

 false step may cause it ; but the predisposing* cause is 

 brittleness of hoof. Sand-crack usually takes place, 

 either at the weakest part of the foot, or where there 

 is most stress and pressure; therefore it is oftenest 

 seen upon the inner quarter of the fore foot. In the 

 hind foot the sand-crack is most frequently at the 

 toe; for there is the principal stress in the act of 

 drawing heavy loads. Occasionally it begins at once 

 from the coronet; but sometimes it is first perceived 

 about the middle of the hoof. 



The slightest appearance of sand-crack should be 

 attended to. It uniformly begins from without, and 

 penetrates inwardly : it may therefore sometimes be 

 arrested in its progress while it is merely superficial. 

 Whenever there is a sand-crack, no matter how long 

 or short, how shallow or deep it may be, it must be 

 cut out. The drawing knife must be used till the 

 very bottom of the crack has been gained. The side 

 of it having been removed, so as to make what once 

 was a fissure a broad groove. If the crack does not 

 reach from the top to the bottom of the crust, a line 

 should be deeply drawn with a sharp firing-iron, above 

 and below it ; so as to prevent the crack from spread- 

 ing in either direction. 



If lameness accompanies sand-crack, the fissure has 

 penetrated through the horn to, the sensible parts; 

 either gravel has insinuated itself, which is giving; 



