In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 107 



THRCJSH 



Is another disease of the foot of the horse, which, 

 however much veterinary surgeons and other writers 

 may say to the contrary, the author is satisfied is mainly 

 caused by man's neglect. It is a disease that is observed 

 in horses of all ages, the colt in the farm-yard and the 

 old and worn-out carriage horse. Thrush in the foot of 

 the colt is produced by pressure and contraction of the 

 quarters, which is thereby diminished in size, and the 

 lower portion of the fleshy or sensitive frog being 

 confined is irritated and inflamed, which induces ulcera- 

 tion, and when matured is manifested by matter being 

 discharged from the cleft of the frog. The cause of this 

 contraction is attributable to neglect in not having the 

 colt's feet examined regularly, and the heels rasped down 

 and the toe shortened. We never see thrush in the foot 

 of a thorough-bred colt, from the simple reason that their 

 feet are not neglected. It would not pay, for who would 

 o-ive four or five hundred guineas for a thorough-bred 

 colt, however good-looking he may be, if his feet were 

 rotten with thrush ? If neglect will not pay in the race- 

 horse, neither will it do so in the hackney, carriage, or 

 cart horse, yet many farmers and owners of young horses 

 will risk contracting thrush and numerous other diseases 

 of the foot lor the sake of saving a few shillings ;— and 

 few indeed it is, for the foot if looked to once a month 

 would become sound and well formed, instead of weak, 

 diseased, and malformed. During the stage of in- 

 flammation the lower surface of the sensible frog, 

 secretes pus, instead of the horny substance which is 



