158 



HORSESHOEING. 



open flat shoe, though much will depend upon the other lesions 

 that may be present, the nature of the hoof, and the service 

 required of the animal. 



If the edges of the crack are irregular and overlapping, the 

 shoer should carefully thin away all overlapping edges. Thin- 

 ning the horn on both sides of the crack over the coronary band, 

 preventing drying out of the horn, and frequent applications of 

 laurel oil to the coronet favor growth of undivided horn and 

 guard against a renewal of the crack. 



If in the beginning of the disease there is inflammation and 

 lameness, cooling poultices should be used for several days. 



Fig. 136. 



Fig. 137. 



Toe-crack immoMlizea by lateral toe-clips 

 and an iron plate secured by small wood 

 screws. 



Hoof witli coronary quarter-crack, shod 

 with a bar-shoe. The part of the quarter 

 relieved of pressure is indicated by the 

 dotted lines. 



When there is no lameness, the horse may be used for slow 

 draught purposes. Coach- and saddle-horses should be kept from 

 fast work until sound horn has grown dovm at least two-fifths of an 

 inch from the coronet. 



Bar-cracks are usually the result of changes of position of the 

 quarters, and are just as frequently brought about by contraction 

 as by leaving the quarters too high. We see them almost en- 

 tirely upon the fore-hoofs. They seldom occur alone, but are 

 usually accompanied by corns. When the crack extends to the 

 pododerm there is a superficial inflammation of the pododerm 

 and lameness. When treatment is not promptly begun the 



