OPERATION FOR HOOF CRACKS 



425 



convalescence and often causes an annoying claudication. 

 The field about the coronet must therefore be clipped and 

 shaved, rinsed with mercuric chloride solution 1-500 and then 

 bathed for some moments with alcohol. The instrument 

 must be sterilized. 



TECHNIQUE.— First Step.— A rubber tourniquet is 

 wrapped around the metacarpus to prevent bleeding; a V- 

 shaped piece of hoof is removed along the crack from the 

 coronet downward about two inches for toe-cracks and one 

 and a half inches for quarter-cracks. In toe-crack the base 

 of the V extends about one inch on either side of the crack ; 



Fig. 212 Fig. 213 



Figs. 211, 212 and 213— Forms of Incurable Hoof Cracks. 



that is to say, it is about two inches wide. across the top. For 

 quarter-crack this dimension should be only about one inch 

 long, in order to conserve to the quarter as much weight- 

 bearing strength as possible. 



The piece is removed by cutting the two grooves from 

 above downward completely through the wall and then 

 prying it off with a strong chisel or special forceps con- 

 structed for that purpose. By removing the piece as a unit 

 instead of paring it off with the hoof-knife the laminae and 

 coronary cushion are left clean without any mutilation. 



Second Step. — Destroying the Focus of the Crack in 

 Coronary Cushion and Laminae. — With the horn thus stripped 

 off the involvement of the sensitive structure is plainly seen. 



