SAND-CRACK. 391 



the fore and the hind feet. In the fore feet it is usually found in the inner 

 quarter (see g. page 352), but occasionally in the outer quarter, beoause there 

 is the principal stress or effort towards expansion in the foot, and the inner 

 quarter is weaker than the outer. In the hind feet the crack is almost invaria- 

 bly found in the front, because in the digging of the toe into the ground in the 

 act of drawing, the principal stress is in front. 



This is a most serious defect. It indicates a brittleness of the crust, some- 

 times natural, but oftener the consequence of mismanagement or disease, which, 

 in spite of every means adopted, will probably be the source of future annoy- 

 ance. On a hoof that has once been thus divided no dependence can be placed, 

 unless, by great care, the natural suppleness of the horn has been restored and 

 is retained. 



Sand-crack may happen in an instant from a false step or over-exertion, and 

 therefore a horse, although he may spring a sand-crack within an hour after 

 the purchase, cannot be returned on that account. 



It is always necessary to examine the inner quarter of the foot at the time of 

 purchase, for it has more than once occurred that, by low dealers, and particu- 

 larly at fairs, a sand-crack has been neatly covered with pitch, and then, the 

 whole of the hoof having been oiled, the injury was so adroitly concealed that 

 an incautious person might be easily deceived. 



The crack sometimes does not penetrate through the horn. It then causes 

 no lameness ; nevertheless, it must not be neglected. It shows that there is 

 brittleness, which should induce the purchaser to pause ; and, if proper means 

 are not taken, it will generally soon penetrate to the quick. It should be pared 

 or rasped fairly out ; and if the paring or rasping has been deep, the foot 

 should be strengthened by a coating of pitch, with coarse tape bound over it, 

 and a second coating of pitch covering this. Every crack should be pared or 

 rasped to ascertain its depth. If it penetrates through the crust, even although 

 no lameness exists, a firing iron, red-hot, should be passed somewhat deeply 

 above and below it, in order to prevent its lengthening — the edges should be 

 thinned to remove any painful or injurious pressure, and the foot should be 

 bound up in the manner directed, care being taken that the shoe does not press 

 upon the crust immediately under the sand-crack. 



If the crack has penetrated through the crust, and lameness has ensued, the 

 case is more serious. It must be carefully examined, in order to ascertain that 

 no dirt or sand has got into it ; the edges must be more considerably thinned, 

 and if any fungus is beginning to protrude through the crack, and is imprisoned 

 there, it must be destroyed by the application of the butyr (chloride) of anti- 

 mony. This is preferable to the cautery, because the edges of the horn will 

 not be thickened or roughened, and thus become a source of after-irritation. 

 The iron must then be run deeply across, above, and below the crack, as in 

 the other case ; a pledget of dry tow being placed in the crack, in and over it, 

 and the whole bound down as tightly as possible. On the third day the part 

 should be examined, and the caustic again applied if necessary : but if the 

 craofc is dry, and defended by a hard horny crust, the sooner the pitch plaster 

 is put on the better. 



The most serious case is, when, from tread or neglect, the coronet is divided. 

 The growth of horn proceeds from the coronary ligament, and unless this liga- 

 ment is sound the horn will grow down disunited. The method to be here 

 adopted is to run the back of the firing-iron over the coronet where it is 

 divided. Some inflammation will ensue ; and when the scab produced by the 

 cautery peels off, as it will in a few days, the division will be obliterated, and 

 sound and united horn will grow down. When there is sufficient hom above 

 the crack, a horizontal line should be drawn with a firing-iron between tho 



