178 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
contraction given equally as much attention as the sand- 
crack itself. 
Where the crack is situated far back in the quarter, and 
easing of the bearing cannot be accomplished without tend- 
ing to spring the heels, then the most suitable shoe is a 
bar shoe. With it the bearing may, of course, be eased in 
exactly the position required, and the heels still allowed to 
take their fair share in bearing the body-weight, and thus 
assist in closing the crack. The bar shoe, if properly fitted, 
gives us also a bearing on the frog, and aids greatly in 
counteracting contraction. 
2. Curative. 
(a) The Application of Dressings to the Lesion.—In the 
case of a recent crack, deep, and attended with hemorrhage, 
the foot should be thoroughly cleansed. Where possible, 
a constant flow of cold water from a hose-pipe should be 
allowed to run over the foot. By this means the inflam- 
matory symptoms will be held in check and pain prevented. 
Later the shoe may be eased at the required place, and a 
blister applied to the coronet. This, with rest, will some- 
times prove all that is needed. 
Should a crack be of old standing, and complicated by 
the presence of pus, a course of hot poulticing will often 
prove of benefit. The poultice should be medicated with 
any reliable disinfectant, and should be renewed, or at any 
rate reheated, two or three times daily. The crack itself 
should be thoroughly cleaned after the removal of each 
poultice, and a concentrated antiseptic solution—such as 
Tuson’s spts. hydrarg. perchlor., carbolic acid, and water, 
(1 in 10) or liquor zinci chlor.—poured into it. On dis- 
continuing the poulticing, the strength of the antiseptic 
solutions may be decreased, the parts rested by correct 
shoeing, and a blister applied to the coronet as before. 
If these measures alone should prove insufficient, then 
the surgeon will either fall back on those we have just 
related, or proceed to methods next to be described. 
(b) Immobilizing the Crack by Means of grooving the Wall. 
—To our minds, this is as ready and withal as successful a 
