DISEASES OF THE HORSE 83 



plished much sooner. Never attempt to open or lance a 

 puffy swelling about a joint as it contains joint oil. The 

 result would be an open joint. 



THRUSH 



Cause: The two main causes of Thrush are lack of 

 pressure on the frog and the decomposing effect of filth 

 and fermentation of organic matter which accumulates in 

 the cleft of the frog. 



Symptoms: The animal in some cases is lame; there 

 will be a swelling accompanied by a very fetid discharge ; 

 in some cases the frog has practically rotted away ; there 

 will be more or less inflammation in the foot. The legs 

 may even swell. Thrush is more frequently found in the 

 hind feet because of the manure and filth with which they 

 must come in contact. 



Teeatment.: Cut away all loose pieces of horn from 

 over the frog and apply a Flaxseed meal poultice and 

 leave it on for twenty-four hours, after which wash well 

 with Soap and warm water. Then apply Calomel to the 

 groove in the frog. Keep the foot clean. Do not allow 

 the animal to stand in filth. 



WIND COLIC 

 (Flatulent Colic) 

 Cause : This dangerous form of Colic is a distension 

 of the bowels with gas, resulting generally from the de- 

 composition of undigested food in the bowels. It some- 

 times follows Spasmodic Colic, in which there is first 

 spasms due to the irritations set up by the presence of 

 undigested matter, and subsequently this food decom- 

 poses and forms gas. I may conclude that Flatulent or 

 Wind Colic is usually caused by errors in feeding and 

 watering horses. Perhaps the animal has been given 

 large quantities of rank grass, watery roots, which on 

 account of its moist nature is quickly swallowed without 

 being properly masticated. 



