488 
ON SANDCRACK. 
pansion of the crust at the anterior and superior part of it which 
produces the fracture : and all this is to be traced to improper 
shoeing. What warrants me to be so decided upon this point 
is, that a country mode gives nearly instant relief. 
The same effect may, however, in some instances, be produced 
when ascending a hill (Holborn hill), when these poor animals’ 
feet are slipping every moment from under them, unable to get 
a hold of the ground, and, at the same time, using their utmost 
power to accomplish it. I have often felt for them, knowing, 
from experience, that they could be assisted merely by putting 
on tips. Why should these be banished from London ? They 
certainly are not natural productions, nor are the shoes ; and if 
we are to apply for artificial means to complete our ends, why 
not execute them to their fullest extent? 
At one time I was prejudiced against heels and tips, thinking 
the foot was supported on three points, and that they were the 
cause of ossified lateral cartilages; but, as a proof that these 
may be present without such shoes, I examined upwards of 
ninety horses in one stable, where not above six were free from 
ossification of the cartilages. These had been unaccustomed to 
have any heels or tips on the fore shoes. I was particularly 
struck with the use of the tips a number of years ago, in Edin¬ 
burgh, in watching a cart horse going up a hill; I then saw that 
he carefully searched with the tip the space between the stones 
before he ventured to apply his force to move the load onwards ; 
which satisfied me that they could not be dispensed with with¬ 
out disadvantage. I am still the more convinced, after seeing 
such numbers of horses falling down from the want of them; 
and in no instance have I seen them enabled to apply their whole 
strength for the want of a resistance. 
The treatment of sandcrack in the toe of the hind feet is one of 
the evils, I am aware, few veterinarians like to have much to do 
with, from its obstinate nature, the time required to effect a 
radical cure, and the probability of its return. But when we have 
an obstinate case entrusted to our care, something must be done, 
and that is expected to be upon scientific principles. 
The general method, in the acute form, is to thin the horn on 
each side of the division, and chiefly at the superior part, and if 
any horn is detached to remove it; but if this can be avoided, the 
cure will be more speedy, for the granulations that afterwards 
shew themselves in the fissure are difficult to reduce, and keep 
up a constant irritation. The shoe should always be removed, and 
the sole pared out until the blood oozes through the horn ; after 
this the foot should be held in warm water for hours together, 
and, when taken out, immersed into a large poultice: by this 
