Chap. XCVI. Of cafi'mg the Hoof. 2^9 



iliould be open'd once in three or four Days, that the Cleft 

 may be drefs'd ; and to prevent anylnconveniency that can 

 happen by the opening, a thin Staple may be alfo con- 

 triv'd with Points like Horfe-flioe Nails, call off obliquely, 

 to take a llender Hold, the Plate of it croffing the Cleft 

 where Part of the Shoe is cut off, and the Nails coining 

 out on each fide of the Cleft on the upper Part, to be rivet- 

 ted as the other Nails. By this Method, a Cleft in any 

 Part of the Hoof may eafily be cured, if the Horfe be not 

 very old or difeafed. 



CHAP. XCVI. 



Of cajl'mg the Hoof. 



'Tp H E Lofs of the Hoof is occafioned by Pricks, Stubs, 

 '■■ Foundering, Surbating, or whatever Accident may 

 bring an Impofthumation into the Foot, whereby the whole 

 Coffin of ihe Hoof becomes loofened, and falls oft" from 

 the Bone ; and fometimes the Coffin-bone, which is fpon- 

 gy and eafily broke, falls oft' in large Pieces along with the 

 Hoof ; but this is a very defperate Cafe, fince a perfeft 

 Foot can never be form'd after fo great a Lofs ; but a new 

 Hoof may be procur'd with Care and proper Applications, 

 if the Coffin-bone, ^c. be not injur'd. 



The ufual Method to procure a new Hoof, is to apply 

 to the Coffin, Tar, Turpentine, Wax, Oil, Pitch, and fuch 

 things, melted together ; then they make a Boot of Lea- 

 ther, with a ftrong Soal, to be lac'd faft about the Paftern, 

 bolftering and flopping the Foot with foft Flax, that the 

 Tread may be eafy, renewing the Dreffing every Day un- 

 til the new Hoof grow. The Boot is certainly very pro- 

 per, but the Ointment will not always be fufficient to m/akc 

 a found and fmooth Hoof i and therefore if the Part grow 

 fungous, which is very common, and, in a great Meafure, 

 the Caufe of all the ill Shape and Unevennefs of the new 

 Hoof, {harper Applications ought to be made ufe ot j for 

 which Purpofe we recommend the following. 



*' Take of Rofin half a Pound, Oil Olive one Pound : 

 " Diflblve the Rofin in the Oil over a gentle Fire ; take it 

 *' off", and when it. begins to cool, add Myrrh, Aloes, 

 *' Maftich, and Olibanum in fine Powder, of each two 

 ^' Ounces, and make it into an Oint.ment. 



•" Take 



