COMMON AILMENTS. 29 



when entering his stable, an Lour later you can hardly get 

 him out of it for stiffness. Sometimes the disease locates itself 

 in one limb, at others it flies all over the animal. In which- 

 ever leg it happens to be, the horse puts it to the ground 

 with gieat caution, and in evident pain. I do not see how 

 any medicine we know of can relieve the horse — embrocations, 

 on the other hand, may do so. A very effectual preparation 

 for this purpose is Elliman's embrocation, or one made of 

 mustard and water, well rubbed into the seat of pain. 



Swelled Legs are mostly found in young horses, or where no 

 proper and regular exercise has been given. The swelling is 

 very rapid, and the limb becomes stiff and painful ; often this 

 is followed by "grease" in the heels. Too high feeding, or, on 

 the other hand, general debility, may be to blame. A diuretic, 

 which will lessen the quantity of the circulating fluid, should 

 be given, with aperients, if the animal is in high condition, 

 or tonics if weak. A drachm each of oil of juniper and 

 camphor, mixed with ^oz. of nitre, and made into a ball, 

 will be found as good as any. Tonics must always be ad- 

 ministered with care, or they do more harm than good. 

 Excellent tonics are gentian and ginger, and a capital ball 

 is also made by mixing sulphate of iron with chamomile, the 

 proportion being two of the latter to one of the former — 

 s.iy, -^oz. and loz. respectively. 



We now proceed to consider the common ailments to which 

 the feet are subject. Passing over such dangerous diseases as 

 fever in the feet — both acute and chronic — which can only be 

 treated by the experienced veterinary surgeon with any hope of 

 a favourable result, we may notice, first, what is known as 

 thrush. 



Thrush. — This is a slight discharge of evil-smelling matter 

 from the cleft of the frog, and is generally caused by the horse 

 being allowed to stand in wet dung, or urine, in a badly-drained 

 stable. It is, consequently, more often found in the hind than 

 the fore feet. The frog gets wa-ted, and, under the influence 

 of the disease, the foot often contracts, and lameness ensues; 

 in addition to which, there is such tenderness, that the sudden 

 stepping on a sharp stone is likely to bring about a bad fall. 

 If suffered to run its course unchecked, canker probably appears, 

 to further complicate and heighten the mischief. First remove 

 the cause, and then, the foot being washed thoroughly clean, 

 dip a piece of tow into a solution of chloride of zinc, or nitric 



