180 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
taining the sand-crack thus prevented from participating in 
the movements of the foot. For our own part, we consider 
the V-shaped incision, or either of the horizontal methods 
of grooving, preferable to lines running in the direction of 
the horn fibres. With the latter there is certainly a greater — 
tendency to the formation of new cracks than with either 
of those we advocate. The V-shaped incision we consider 
most suitable of all, for the reason that by its means a 
greater degree of immobility is conferred upon the necessary 
portion of the wall. 
Whichever method is adopted, ents should be taken to 
carry the grooves deep enough into the horn, taking them 
down as near as possible to the sensitive structures. At 
the same time, especial care should be exercised in not 
carrying them too deep at their extreme upper limit, or in 
that case the liability to the formation of fresh cracks in 
those positions will be greatly increased. 
After grooving, a sharp blister should be applied to the 
coronet every three or four weeks, and the animal, if free 
from lameness, put to work. 
(c) By stripping away a V-shaped Portion of the Wall 
around the Crack.—This method is only indicated when 
the crack is greatly complicated by the presence of pus, or 
by the growth of adventitious horn on the inner surface of 
the wall. A radical cure is thus obtained, but the animal 
for a longer time incapacitated from work.’ 
The operation is best performed by first grooving a line 
to connect the points a and c (Fig. 97). .This should run 
immediately under the coronary margin of the wall, and 
should stop short of injuring the coronary cushion beneath. 
Grooves forming the sides ab and be of the triangular 
piece of horn are next made, and the horn contained within 
the lines ab, be, and ca, carefully removed. The grooves 
are the easiest made by a cautious use of the firing-iron. 
The greater thickness of the horn may thus be penetrated, 
and the grooves afterwards carried to their full and requisite 
depth by the use of the drawing-knife. 
With the removal of the horn the diseased structures 
