THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 



453 



Heat it in with a hot iron. This preparation is of great strength and 

 power and must be used canefully. 



If preferred, a seton may be put in the bottom of the foot at the frog. 

 To do this, first pare the scale as thin as possible without reaching the 

 quick ; provide a sharp, short, well-curved needle threaded with tape ; 

 pierce the sole about an inch from the toe, and bring out midway be-, 

 tween the two parts of the frog and the hoUow of the heel ; or enter at 

 the hollow of the heel and bring out the needle at the body of the frog. 

 The utmost care must be had not to pierce deep enough to injure the 

 tendon or bursa which lies close there. Tie the tape, and wet daily with 

 2^0. 189, or the following : 



No. 190. 



1 Part powdered cantharides, 

 1 Part oil of turpentine, 

 8 Parts Canada balsam. 



Shake the two first well together and add the balsam, shaking occa- 

 eionally for 24 hours, and apply to the seton tape every day, turning it 

 at the same time. The object in this disease is to produce suppurative 

 running of the parts. This done, the cure is only a question of time. 



If, in spite of all that has been done for relief, the disease proceeds to 

 degeneration of the bone, resort must be had to cutting the nerves lead- 

 ing to the foot, (Neurotomy) which will be described in the proper 

 chapter. 



n. Cracked Hoofs. 



Causes. — This is not an unusual occurrence in 

 horses, and arises, as a rule, from weak and 

 brittle hoofs, produced by a dry state of the 

 hoof, whatever may be the cause, whether fever 

 or other causes of degeneration. The prolific 

 causes are drying of the wall of the hoof, 

 uneven bearing of the shoe, calking or other 

 wounds or injuries of the coronet. This crack 

 may extend down from the coronet according to 

 the time it is allowed to run. 



CLOSING CBACE IN HOOV. 



What to do. — If taken early, a bar shoe, 

 having an even bearing all round will generally 



relieve the difficulty. In connection with this, apply a plaster of pitch 

 over the injury. 



If the crack becomes determined, as in the cut given, it must be kep< 



