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Otago Daily Times, Issue 95, 6 March 1862, Page 4

Cracks in Horses Feet.—The following is Dr. Dodd's mode of treatment of this troublesome complaint, consisting essentially in sewing the parts together, by means of a strong wax cord :—" The best practice would be, first, to poultice the foot (supposing the shoe to have been removed), with a view of softening the hoof and removing any extraneous matter that may have insinuated itself into the crack. When the hoof is sufficiently softened, it should be cleansed, examined, and dressed with tincture of myrrh. Select a spot about an inch below the coronet, and with a small gimblet bore a hole through the two edges of the crack, and another one inch above the toe. A straight needle, armed with a strong ligature, is to be passed through the upper holes, brought over and through a .second time ; thus closing the two edges of the fissure by what the sailors term a " round turn." The same thing is to be repeated at the toe. The assistant, by the aid of the pincers, or otherwise, shuts the crack as close as possible, the ligatures are each drawn tight, and tied with a surgeon's knot. A small quantity of blister ointment is to be smeared over the crack, and a bar-shoe applied. The cure is accomplished in two ways—first, by fusion; secondly, by the growth, of new liorn from the matrix downward. After the edges have firmly united, cut the ligatures, and pare the uneven edges of the cicatrix level with the surrounding parts, and theCTire is completed."