Hoofs.

Hoofs. The healthy soundness of the horse's foot is mainly preserved by permitting it to grow uninjured by the rasp and knife (see HORSE-SHOEING), and kept clean by being washed with cold water; all other applications are injurious and destroy the toughness of the 'horn surface.' Softness and brittleness of the hoof, which are fruitful sources of cracks and Corns (q.v.), may be remedied by placing the feet for several hours daily in thick woollen swabs, kept cool and moist by frequent applications of cold water, and by encouraging a more healthy growth of horn by occasional mild blisters round the coronary band. Cracks, or sand-cracks, as they are termed, mostly occur amongst horses much upon the road, cause lameness, and constitute unsoundness. When serious and recent, poulticing, thinning away of the crust about the crack, and perfect rest are essential. After the earlier heat and tenderness are removed a hot iron should be drawn at right angles to the crack, both above and below, so as to separate the diseased from the sound horn. Waxed thread or fine wire should be wound round the hoof, and a sound growth of horn stimulated by a blister round the coronet. The horse's hoofs are too hard and coarse to be employed for the making of the better class of combs and buttons, for which purpose the hoofs of cattle, to the value of nearly £5000, are annually imported into Britain. They are, however, largely used by manufacturers of prussiate of potash and artificial manures. See FOOT.