258 The I ARKiiR s NeiJ^' Guide. Ch. XCV. 



The ufual Method taken to remedy this Imperfedion, 

 is by cutting off that Part of the Shoe which lies upon the 

 Chink, that it may be wholly uncover'd ; then with a draw- 

 ing Iron to open the Rift to the Quick, filling it up in all 

 Parts with a Rowel of Hurds dipt in Turpentine, Wax, 

 and Sheeps Suet, molten together, renewing it every Day 

 until the Seam is fiU'd up ; after it is clos'd in the Top, or 

 upper Parr, it is ulual to draw the Place beru'ixt the Hoof 

 and Cronet^ which by foftening the Hoof, and bringing a 

 Moirture into it, caufes it to grow the fafter, and (hoot 

 downwards. But there are fome who fear the Cronet above 

 the Crack, without piercing the Skin juil where the Hoof 

 begins ; and with another Iron fear the Chink about the 

 Middle of the Hoof, which fucceeds very well, if Care be 

 taken to keep the Hoof moift with Applications of Tar, 

 Honey, and Greafe. Some pour Aqua fortis into the 

 Rift when the Pain is violent, to deaden the Part, ma- 

 king a Border of Wax on each fide, to hinder it from fpoil- 

 ing the reft of the Hoof; and there are others who pre- 

 pare a flat Piece of Wood, about an Inch in Breath, but 

 at the fame time fo flender, that it will bend like a Hoop, 

 and of a fufficient Length to go twice round the Hoof; 

 and having firft drawn the whole Length of the Cleft, they 

 apply Turpentine, Pitch, and Suet, molten together, to the 

 Sore, and faften the Hoof with Pieces of Lift or Filletting. 

 This is a Contrivance to anfwer inftead of Bandage, to 

 keep the Chink united, and to prevent it from jarring when 

 the Foot is mov'd ; v^'hich is indeed very reafonable ; for 

 the leaft Motion will be apt to dilcompofe the tender Sub- 

 ftance that grov.'s up in the Cleft, and caufe Impofthuma- 

 tion, which will again open the Hoof. But I am of Opi- 

 nion, inftead of this troublefome Way, the following Me- 

 thod will be found more eafy and fuccefsful. 



Firft draw the whole Length of the Cleft gently with 

 your drawing Iron, then anoint the Hoof with Tar, Ho- 

 ney, and Suet, molten together, as dire<5ted ; for nothing 

 can be more proper for the Hoof; and lay a thin Pledgit 

 dipt in the fame along the Cleft ; after this take of Rope- 

 yarn, fuch as the Sailors ufe, which is no other than Hem.p 

 moiften'd in melted Pitch or Tar, and fpunloofe; apply 

 the Yarn all down the Hoof, beginning at the Cronet, and 

 defccnd downwards, one Lay after another, as clofe as the 

 binding of the Hoops of Wine-casks, laying a fmooth Pied- 

 git of Flax behind to keep it from fretting the Heel. This 



fhould 



