American Veterinary Review, 
JANUARY, 1882. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
THE HORSE'S FOOT. 
By A. Zundel. 
(Continued from page 386.) 
VII. Treatment .—Prophylaxy ought to be the principal treat¬ 
ment of cracks. It is not always easy, however, to prevent them, 
and it becomes important, therefore, to treat them as soon as 
they appear. One ought at least to try to prevent them from 
becoming complete and deep. This form of treatment may be 
called the hygienic, as it is not properly curative, and so long as 
the crack is not yet completely formed, by this means the animal 
may be kept at work as if everything was normal. Curative 
treatment is that which is applied to the deep or complete dis¬ 
ease, more or less complicated, and it most commonly consists in 
removing that portion of the wall which bruises and irritates the 
tissues beneath, and in equalizing the wound. In general, there 
is no necessity for haste in operating, the hygienic treatment be¬ 
ing often sufficient to obviate the need of serious operations. The 
distinction between the hygienic and curative treatment is not 
however, always definitely marked, and quite often the two 
modes of treatment must be combined, both the hygienic and 
curative being necessary. 
Th e, prophylactic treatment consists specially in the applica¬ 
tion of tonics, with the object of preventing the hoof from dry¬ 
ing. Its normal hygroscopic condition must be preserved, and it 
