114 THE ART OF HORSE-SHOEING. 



upon the clips, and sometimes one breaks. It is there- 

 fore necessary always to use two, and for an extensive 

 crack three may be employed. 



All these appliances tend to keep the lips of the crack 

 from separating-, but they do not prevent the edges of a 

 deep, wide crack from being forced together, and thus 

 I)inching the sensitive parts. To provide against this 

 injury, a slip of hard wood may be fitted into the crack, 

 and then the nails or clips may be more safely drawn 

 tight without fear of injury, and with a better chance of 

 preventing any movement in the edges of the crack. To 

 insert the wood, the crack is converted into a groove 

 nearly as deep as the wall, about three-eighths of an inch 

 wide, with straight sides, or, better still, with a little 

 greater width at the bottom than at the surface. Into 

 such a groove, a piece of wood formed to fit it is gently 

 driven from below and rasj^ed off to fit exactly. Or 

 softened gutta-percha may be pressed firmly into the 

 space and levelled off when cold. 



To "cut out " a sandcrack, except for the purpose of 

 refilling it, is bad j:»ractice, as it favors movement and 

 helps to make the defect ]jermanent. To rasp away the 

 horn so that only a thin layer is left is also injurious. 



Fio. 89.— Shoe with heel clips for sandcrack. 



No horn should be removed, except for the fitting of a 

 plug, as above described, or, under veterinary direction, 

 for the imr])ose of giving vent to matter which has 

 formed within the hoof. 



