HOOFS. (See HonxY TISSUES.) The healthy soundness of the horse's foot is mainly preserved by permitting it to grow uninjured by the rasp and knife (see I ionsu SHOEING), whilst its toughness is secured, and undue dryness and evaporation prevented, by smearing daily the crust, sole, and frog with a little glycerine, or a mixture made by melting together a quarter of a pound each of tar, honey, beeswax, and glycerine, with a pound of lard. Softness and brittleness of the hoof, which are fruitful sources of cracks and corns (q.v.), may be remedied by the regular use of such dressings, by placing the feet for several hours daily in thick woolen swabs, kept cool and moist by frequent applications of cold water, and by encouraging a more healthy growth of horn by occa sional 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 consti tute 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 mid 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 -£5,000, are :Humidly imported. They are, however, largely used by manufacturers of prossiate of potash and artificial manures.