546 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
tation as well, were we to talk about laying a horse up for so 
“ trifling” an accident. Nay, some horses, with non-penetrant 
sandcracks, or with sandcracks that have been penetrant but 
have become horned over, shewing little or no lameness, con- 
tinue to work on without, at all events for some time if not for 
always, evincing any pain or inconvenience from them. 
Whether a horse be lame or not, however, should he have a 
sandcrack and we be consulted about it, it becomes our duty to 
arrest the extension of the crack so long as it be but partial ; 
and, besides that, to take measures for the “ cure” or permanent 
removal of such crack. The owner of the horse should be 
given to understand, that no flaw or crack in the hoof can by 
possibility unite the same as a wound in a vital part does ; 
but must, as the saying is, “ grow down,” i. e. must be re- 
placed by new horn, and be itself by degrees removed, as it 
continues to come under the operation of the drawing knife 
every time the horse is fresh shod. So that, in point of fact, 
the “ cure” or obliteration of sandcrack is necessarily a work of 
some months; though the removal of the lameness consequent 
on it may possibly be accomplished in as many hours or days. 
PARING out the Crack, the shoe being taken off the foot, 
is the first thing to be done. The cutting cautiously away of 
its rugged edges, and the scooping out with a light hand — pro- 
bably with the back of the drawing knife — of its cavity, will 
enable us to examine into the condition of it. Should there be 
no lesion or exposure of the laminse detectible, nothing further 
will be needed from the drawing knife than the cleaning out of 
the crack. 
FIRING THE Crack is the next operation. Cross-firing will 
be advisable below or above, or in both situations, according to 
circumstances. So long as the crack has not reached to the 
bottom of the wall, it will be requisite, with an ordinary firing 
iron at a red heat, to burn a deep but short fissure or “ mark” 
across its lower extremity ; and whether a similar operation be 
required across the superior termination of the crack must de- 
pend upon its extension or not through the horn at the coronet. 
If there be any interval of sound horn between the hair and the 
crack of sufficient breadth and substance to bear firing, a very 
slight burn may do good. In all cases it is the practice to finish 
the firing with running the sharp edge of the iron down the crack; 
and this certainly proves beneficial in destroying any tendency 
there may be — supposing the laminse to have become denuded — 
to anormal action, as well to stimulate any vascular parts ex- 
posed to issue horny matter to cover in the bottom of the crack. 
Binding up the Crack is a good practice after firing. 
With a wax-end of sufficient length — such as shoe-makers use — 
