SANDCRACK
—is a crack or cleft in the HOOF of a HORSE, which originates in a preternatural brittleness, brought on by standing too constantly upon hot dry litter, without stopping to the bottom, or a proper and occasional oiling of the hoof, to keep it in a healthy state. It generally runs in a straight line downwards; and when it extends from the junction of hair and hoof to the bottom, with the bloody lymph oozing from the membranous mass at the top, it then becomes a serious concern, affording no expectation of speedy consolation. There is, in fact, but one direct mode of cure, which is to reduce the projecting and ragged edges to a level, with the finest side of the rasp. Then with the fine edge of a small firing-iron, of moderate heat, run two lines parallel to each other on each side the crack longitudinally; this done, draw two in the same manner transversely above, and the same below the centrical part of the cleft, by which it will be enclosed in a small square of double lines, calculated to restore the union which has been destroyed. A little compound tincture of myrrh, or friar's balsam, should be poured into the crack so soon as it is observed, particularly if blood should be perceived to transude from the opening. In slight cases, horses may be continued in moderate use; but where they bear the complexion previously described, turning out to grass in a pasture moist, but not wet, and that for a length of time, is the only foundation upon which the expectation of permanent cure can be entertained.