SANDCEACK. 521 



of the foot, it is called Quarter Sandcrack ; if present in front 

 of tlie organ, it receives the name of Toe Sandcrack. 



Sandcrack is a frequent cause of acute lameness, because of 

 the sensitive tissues of the foot being exposed thereby, and 

 becoming inflamed in consequence. 



Teeatment. — Several modes of treatment have been pro- 

 posed for its cure; the most certain and effectual, however, 

 that I know of, is the one here recommended. 



Poultice the affected foot for three, four, or five days in 

 succession as necessity may require, with poultices of bran con- 

 taining hog's lard ; then with a sharp drawiug knife cut away' 

 the horn at the top of the Sandcrack, so as to allow the coronary 

 frog band, or the secreting villi of the hoof at this part, perfect 

 liberty to secrete new horn. When the necessary amount of 

 horn is removed, should the wounded tissues bleed, the operator 

 will require to wait untU the bleeding ceases ; after which he 

 should cover the exposed villi, together with the remaioing 

 portion of the fissure, with a coatiug of warm cement, made of 

 three-fourths pitch and one-fourth gutta percha ; immediately 

 after which the foot should be firmly bound up by passing a 

 quantity of copper wire around it ; the patient is then to be 

 turned into a loose box, and there allowed to remain at least 

 for ten or twelve weeks. 



In removing the horn, and otherwise operating as directed, 

 observe the following essentials : — 



I. — Before the operator attempts to cut away the top 

 part of the crack, the hoof should be made soft and pliable as 

 possible with poultices. Poultices will not only soften the 

 horn, but they will remove incipient inflammation, and 

 cleanse away all the dirt which may have collected within 

 the crack. 



