SPLIT HOOF. 



183 



Split Hoof. 



Under the above heading I wish to include those divisions of 

 the horn of the foot which do not take the characteristic form of 

 " sandcrack." 



The chief varieties of this accident are as follows : — 



1. A split of the hoof which, as the result of concussion, presum- 

 ably on hard ground, commences on the ground surface of the foot 

 at the bottom of the groove that separates the heel, at either side, 

 from the frog, and extends through the horn, more or less up to 

 the coronet at the back of the pastern. 



If there be lameness, poultice the foot for a €ouple of days ; open 

 out the fissure freely with a j&ne drawing knife or searcher ; lower 



Fig. 57. — Clasping a sandcrack with a nail. 



the heels so as to take pressure off them ; apply a bar shoe which 

 will throw weight on the frog (Fig. 51 or Fig. 52); and rub a little 

 weak blistering ointment (cantharides, 1 to 24: of lard) into that 

 part of the coronet which is immediately above the crack, every 

 second day or so, in order to stimulate it to secrete strong horn. 



The opening out of the fissure is done to prevent the sensitive 

 par(:s underneath from becoming pinched, when the horse places 

 his foot on the ground. 



2. The wall of the hoof sometimes splits at its lower extremity, 

 thus forming a sort of spurious sandcrack. This fissure rarely ex* 

 tends higher up than a couple of inches. Treat as for sandcrack 

 which does not extend up to the coronet. 



3. A horizontal division of the horn which, generally commencing 

 a little above the heels, extends in a forward and slightly upward 

 direction. Beyond carefully cutting it out, it will not require any 

 special treatment. 



