Foot and Limb Troubles. 237 



the prominences noticed are to give attachment to liga- 

 ments and muscles, both pasterns should be alike. In 

 the early stages there is a .stiffness of movement of the 

 pastern joints, and if in the fore foot a tendency to walk 

 on the heel, the lameness being shown long before any 

 enlargement can be noticed. 



The only satisfactory treatment is the firing iron, fol- 

 lowed with a blister, and the avoidance of breeding from 

 sires or dams with this disease. 



Sidebones is the apt term used to describe the turning 

 into bone of the lateral cartilages, which change may be 

 partial or complete; as will be remembered these carti- 

 lages are of a gristly nature and yield more or less under 

 pressure with the fingers and thumb. Heavy horses 

 seem to be the ones mainly affepted, and in connection 

 with this fact concussion can hardly be the cause, injury 

 from stepping on one another, and heredity, greatest of 

 all, are the probable causes. The symptoms are lame- 

 ness with a stilty action and shortness of the gait, har- 

 dening and enlargement of the cartilages. 



The treatment is not satisfactory, blistering and firing 

 doing good only in the earlier stages. A bar rocker 

 shoe with frog pressure, fomentations and rest, later work 

 on soft ground, will be about the best treatment, some 

 people have the animal nerved if the lameness continues; 

 above all do not breed from a stallion with sidebones, and if 

 judging throw out a stallion so affected always. 



Thrush is a disease of the frog usually following lack of 

 pressure to the frog and consequent lessening of the blood 

 supply; from the dung and urine being allowed to accu- 

 mulate in the feet, or too much moisture. 



