147 
and bran mashes. During this time, the edges of the crack should be 
carefully pared, so as to allow of the escape of all irritating mud, and foul 
matter. When this is washed away, the inflamed sensitive tissue beneath 
may become visible. ‘it will be advisable to have the foot poulticed for a 
-day or two after this operation. 
When by these measures the inflammation and consequent pain have in 
a few days subsided, it is our object to promote the growth of new healthy 
horn to fill up the crack from beneath ; forthe edges of the woundcannot become 
structurally united. Bar-shoes of a fair thickness may now be applied, and 
care must be taken to remove pressure from that part of the foot, 
immediately offosz e ¢o the fissure. When the crack extends as high as the 
coronet, it is customary to pare away a groove between the upper end of the 
fissure and the coronet, so as to divide the fissured horn from the substance 
which forms the new horn. A leathern strap or tarred twine may now be 
applied tightly round the hoof if necessary, or a clasp may be used. There 
are two operations which may be performed for the cure of sandcrack. The 
first, only performed in very bad cases of long standing, is applicable when 
the cracks extend as high as the coronet. It is termed the stripping method, 
and consists in making two grooves, each beginning at the coronet about 
half an inch to an inch on either side of the upper end of the fissure, and 
joining together at the other extremity of the fissure at an angle of about 
70°, The whole of the horn enclosed within this V-shaped area is then 
stripped off, and the part exposed is protected by the application of a strap. 
In those cases where the fissure extends below the junction of the 
grooves, the horn may be pared away below it also. The animal must now 
be rested until the gap is filled with newly secreted horn. In the meantime, 
the foot should be carefully bandaged and dressed with some mild astringent 
lotion. The coronet may be blistered so as to stimulate it to increased 
secreting activity, with an oin'ment of one part of biniodide of mercury and 
two of lard. The time taken for a sandcrack to grow up completely from 
the base, is about nine or ten months. The clasping method is in most 
