OPERATION FOR THE CURE OF SLIT EARS 429 



turned up, one at the center of the toe and one on each side 

 to serve as immobilizing clamps. It is also essential to clamp 

 the crack just below the apex of the V-shaped excavation 

 with plate, clamp or shoe nail. The latter gives the best serv- 

 ice, as well as being the easiest to apply. 



For quarter-cracks a bar-shoe with a light bar that does 

 not touch the frog is the preferable one. The bearing should 

 be uniform throughout the entire circumference of the wall. 

 The practice of removing any part of the pressure from the 

 affected quarter by paring away the wall so that it does not 

 contact the shoe, is exceedingly harmful. Friction between 

 the edges of the crack is increased thereby instead of being 

 diminished. The wall lying posterior to the crack, if not sup- 

 ported, moves with each step and thus maintains a state of 

 irritation along the crack ; and besides, it tends to cause frac- 

 ture of the new growth above. The shoe should be nailed 

 tightly and if possible a special nail should be driven behind 

 the level of the crack for the purpose of producing perfect 

 immobilization of the part. In addition, clamping may be 

 practiced, but as the wall of the quarter is often very thin, 

 care must be exercised to avoid injury to the sensitive laminae. 

 The brass plate, fastened with short screws, is the safest 

 method of clamping quarter cracks. 



Operation for the Cure of Slit Ears. 



INDICATIONS.— The conchal cartilage of horses and 

 oxen are sometimes accidentally slit from contact with sharp 

 objects, and where animals run at large slitting is often prac- 

 ticed for the purpose of identification. The demand for cur- 

 ing the disfiguration comes as soon as such animals are of- 

 fered for sale or fall into the hands of fastidious owners. In 

 the - case of valuable horses the permanent obliteration of such 

 damaging blemishes is always a matter of serious moment. 



When the breach is accompanied with loss of. substances 

 the permanent union of the edges is not always possible, but 

 when the solution of continuity is but a simple incision the 

 following intervention seldom fails: 



RESTRAINT. — The operation can only be performed 

 in the recumbent position. It is quite a long, tedious pro- 

 cedure, to which any-horse will object by movements of the 

 head that would interfere with its proper execution. 



INSTRUMENTS, ETC.— 



1. Scalpel and scissors. 



2. Dissecting forceps. 



