400 THRUSH. 



hind feet, because the heels are stronger, and the feet are not exposed to so much 

 concussion ; and when they are found there, they are rarely or never productive 

 of lameness. There is nothing perhaps in which the improvement in the 

 veterinary art has relieved the horse from so much suffering as shoeing. Where 

 corns now exist of any consequence, they are a disgrace to the smith, the groom, 

 and even to the owner. 



THRUSH. 



This is a discharge of offensive matter from the cleft of the frog. It is in- 

 flammation of the lower surface of the sensible frog, and during which pus is 

 secreted together with, or instead of horn. When the frog is in its sound state, 

 the cleft sinks but a little way into it ; but when it becomes contracted or 

 otherwise diseased, it extends in length, and penetrates even to the sensible horn 

 within, and through this unnaturally deepened fissure the thrushy discharge pro- 

 ceeds. A plethoric state of the body may be a predisposing cause of thrush, but the 

 immediate and grand cause is moisture. This should never be forgotten, for it will 

 lead a great way towards the proper treatment of the disease. If the feet are habi- 

 tually covered with any moist application his standing so much on his own 

 dung is a fair example thrush will inevitably appear. It is caused by any- 

 thing that interferes with the healthy structure and action of the frog. We 

 find it in the hinder feet oftener and worse than in the fore, because in our 

 stable management the hinder feet are too much exposed to the pernicious effects 

 of the dung and the urine, moistening, or as it were macerating, and at the 

 same time irritating them. The distance of the hinder feet from the centre of 

 the circulation would also, as in the case of grease, more expose them to accu- 

 mulations of fluid and discharges of this kind. In the fore feet, thrushes are 

 usually connected with contraction. We have stated that they are both the 

 cause and the effect of contraction. The pressure on the frog from the wiring 

 in of the heels will produce pain and inflammation ; and the inflammation, by 

 the increased heat and suspended function of the part, will dispose to contrac- 

 tion. Horses of all ages, and in almost all situations, are subject to thrush. 

 The unshod colt is frequently thus diseased. 



Thrushes are not always accompanied by lameness. In a great many cases 

 the appearance of the foot is scarcely, or not at all altered, and the disease can 

 only be detected by close examination, or the peculiar smell of the discharge. 

 The frog may not appear to be rendered in the slightest degree tender by it, 

 and therefore the horse may not be considered by many as unsound. Every 

 disease, however, should be considered as legal unsoundness, and especially a 

 disease which, although not attended with present detriment, must not be 

 neglected, for it will eventually injure and lame the horse. All other things 

 being right, a horse should not be rejected because he has a slight thrush, for 

 if the shape of the hoof is not altered, experience tells us that the thrush is 

 easily removed ; but if this is not soon done, the shape of the foot and the 

 action of the horse will be altered, and manifest unsoundness will result. 



The progress of a neglected thrush, although sometimes slow, is sure. The 

 frog begins to contract in size it becomes rough, ragged, brittle, tender the 

 discharge is more copious and more offensive the horn gradually disappears a 

 mass of hardenened mucus usurps its place this easily peals off, and the sen- 

 sible frog remains exposed the horse cannot bear it to be touched fungous 

 granulations spring from it they spread around the sole becomes under- run, 

 and canker steals over the greater part of the foot. 



There are few errors more common or more dangerous than this, that the exist- 

 ence of thrush is a matter of little consequence, or even, as some suppose, a 

 benefit to the horse a discharge for superabundant humours and that it 



