408 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



a little blood or serous moisture shows itself at the edpre, 

 but only under the effects of motion, proceed to pare away 

 the horn around it ; and next, by means of a camel's-hair 

 pencil, introduce within the edo;es a small quantity of the 

 solution of chloride of zinc, as recommended for thrush. 



Bandage the hoof up moderately tight for two days, then 

 again examine the fissure ; when, if the oozing be altogether 

 stopped, and no inflammation appear, proceed to draw lines 

 of a moderate depth with a sharp firing-iron, one very little 

 above the upper limit of the crack, another just beyond the 

 lower limit also, and afterwards bandage as directed below. 

 If preferred, these lines of separation may be made with a 

 rasp, or fine drawing-knife ; but the iron is best, as the 

 seared line of distinction is stronger or more perfect, while 

 the melted horn binds the edgfes toofether. But in case no 

 moisture at all has appeared at the crack, then the insertion 

 of any caustic matter is unnecessary, and the treatment for 

 this kind of fissure is very simple. 



The measures necessary for such an injury will be as 

 follows : The horse being shod with a bar shoe, and the 

 hoof either pared away in a line with the crack ; or other- 

 wise the shoe chambered, so that the horn immediately 

 under the fissure may not be pressed on, proceed to bandage 

 up the foot, so as to fulfil the following intentions. Bring 

 the divided edges of the fissure together, and completely 

 retain them there in such a manner as totally to exclude 

 moisture from entering the opening. Whatever mode will 

 answer these purposes best may be adopted. Some shoe- 

 maker's wax, melted and applied all over the hoof, may be 

 bound round, while yet soft, with some three yards of tape, 

 fastened with a hard knot, the knot again covered with wax. 

 Then smoothe oflf to an even surface, and rub over with lard 

 or grease. In all cases of simple " crack," pare away the 

 divided edges so as to cut out the crack, and then with a 

 hot iron draw a line above and below the place where the 

 division has been. 



Seedy-toe. — We are indebted to Mr. Mayhew for the 

 most lucid and practical notice of this variety of sand-crack. 

 It consists in a separation of the two layers of horn which 

 compose the crust of the hoof. These layers have a separate 

 origin. The outer, which is harder, darker, and thinner 

 than the inner, is secreted from the coronet. The inner, 

 which is softer, lighter in colour, and thicker, is built up 



