490 
ON SANDCRACK. 
crack. The screw supersedes all the other methods I have yet 
seen, by its tightening or slackening the wire at pleasure : the 
former is always wanted, while the latter must be had recourse 
to when the pressure produces lameness. 
My reasons for not prefering Mr. Sewell’s shoe (which has a 
portion of iron under each of the clips ( b) like a heel), is that a 
horse is enabled to rest a portion of his weight between the sole 
and toe, which creates a motion in the crack ; and besides, they 
have not the power as tips to produce that action which is to 
bring the crust downwards and backwards. Each side of the toe 
should not be cut away any more than to relieve the crack from 
pressure, while the heels of the crust must be made low. 
The only other application I have used has been tar; these, 
combined, have cured a number of the worst cases, and which 
have existed for years. 
Many will wonder why I did not fire and blister :—I would do 
so for sandcrack in the quarters of the hoof, there not being so 
much motion. I tried it in a few of these cases, but with no 
effect. I have given the blister up, on the grounds that the 
animal, while under the action of it, is moving continually, and 
the crack seems to be kept in motion; therefore I would not 
recommend the use of blisters until, at least, a portion of solid 
crust is secreted. 
Absolute rest must be enjoined till you have an inch of solid 
crust, and then the animal may be employed at any occupation 
that may be said to be little more than exercise. If a horse 
should be put to severe work with this shoe, there will be a 
danger of some other part of the limb suffering. In all cases where 
they cannot be spared, I let them work with a tip higher than 
the heels; and if this is not attended to, and a common shoe or 
the tips has got worn off, you may soon expect to have a lame 
horse :—this I have often seen. 
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VETERINARY ART; 
BEING A LECTURE DELIVERED BEFORE THE PHILADELPHIA 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
By Dr. Rush. 
Gentlemen,—T he science of medicine is related to every thing. 
A mere physician, that is, a physician who knows nothing but 
the sciences which are supposed to belong exclusively to his pro¬ 
fession, is a non-entity. To deserve that title in its extensive 
import, it is necessary for us to know something of the principles 
