THE HORSE. 25 



portion of the foot from some of the weight of the 

 horse. Besides the interior structure proving this, no 

 stronger evidence of this use of the frogs can he adduced 

 than that want of pressure will of itself produce thrushes, 

 and that, when the foot is not too far gone (fleshy), 

 gentle pressure greatly assists a cure. Stopping the 

 feet improperly with dung, and allowing it to remain too 

 long in the hoofs, will also produce them. The best 

 preventive is pressure and cleanliness ; for, when the 

 frogs become a little ragged, loose sand, dirt, or small 

 gravel insinuating itself into the place affected will 

 ultimately cause a running and tenderness ; and where 

 thrushes are already formed, the greatest attention to 

 cleanliness is required. Proper care and attention, how- 

 ever, will effect a cure in a few hours. Until the frogs 

 become bad or troublesome, or the heels become tender 

 or fleshy, they should not be considered an unsoundness ; 

 but when the original structure of the frog has become 

 so altered as to be perpetually tender, rendering the 

 horse liable to drop at every step, he is then un- 

 questionably UNSOUND. 

 One reason why slight thrushes should be considered 

 as not rendering the horse unsound is, that they are 

 of little consequence, and easily cured ; another reason 

 is, that slight thrushes may be produced in twelve 

 hours in the most healthy feet, that is, the frog may 

 be made to produce a moist secretion in that time. 

 No one, therefore, would be justified in giving a war- 

 ranty were slight thrushes to be regarded as an un- 





