34 



RUNNING THRUSHES 



Constitute a very troublesome disease, if they 

 are suffered to increase. There are few horses 

 that are not more or less subject to them^ 

 Even colts at grass are sometimes affected by 

 them, under certain circumstances, such as the 

 height of the heels, arising from their not being 

 sufficiently worn down so as to bring the frog 

 into contact with the ground, also by running 

 in soft and wet pastures. At the same time it 

 must be admitted, that horses of a hot tern-* 

 perament have a predisposition to this disease ^ 

 and it is probable, that the discharge may, in 

 some measure, prevent other diseases in the 

 limbs. Hence it has been considered dangerous 

 to dry up the frogs ; and indeed it sometimes 

 occurs, that a sudden suspension of the dis- 

 charge, by the application of astringents, wili 

 produce immediate lameness, from a subsequent 

 inflammation taking place in the foot. The 

 disease, however, may be progressively palliated, 

 and even totally removed; and where it occurs, 

 independently of any other imperfection in the 

 form of the hoof, it cannot with propriety be" 

 considered as rendering the animal unsound. 

 On the other hand, where it accompanies a con-- 

 traded joot^ it is generally the consequence 

 of the contraction, and therefore tends to eon- 



