DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 315 



Causes. — Standing in wet and filth, or anything that will 

 rot the frog causes it. Heavy horses are more subject to this 

 disease than light horses. 



Symptoms. — These are very plain. He may be only 

 slightly lame, but if he steps on anything very hard he 

 flinches. By examining the foot you find that the centre of 

 the frog is eaten out by the disease, and there is a discharge 

 which has a very bad smell. 



Treatment. — Keep him out of the wet and dirt, and the 

 stable very clean. Cut off the dead horn from around the 

 frog and wash out the diseased part with warm water and a 

 little soap. After it is cleaned well, poultice with a hot 

 poultice of half linseed meal and half bran for a few days 

 until the foot is nice and soft; after this clean the poultice 

 out of the frog and dust in some dry calomel about twice a 

 week until it is better. Another cheap treatment is to pack 

 the foot full of common salt a couple of times a week. 

 Another is to pour a few drops of butter of antimony into the 

 diseased foot once a week. Do this until all the discharge 

 and smell is gone from the frog. Then leave the frog alone 

 until it goes down itself. 



6. Injuries from Nails (Punctures). 



Causes. — Such injuries are frequently met with, espe- 

 cially in large cities. As soon as a horse shows signs of 

 lameness the bottom of the foot should be examined at once 

 to see whether or not some sharp object such as a nail has 

 punctured or penetrated the bottom of the foot. 



Symptoms. — If in the hind foot he knuckles over and 

 becomes lame very suddenly. If in the front foot he points it 

 out while standing, and when he steps puts as little weight 

 on it as possible, hopping on the sound leg. Examine the 

 foot and you may find the nail itself; if not, by tapping 

 around the foot with a small hammer you find where the 

 tender spot is ; then pare around it and you will find a small, 

 black spot where the nail entered. 



Treatment. — If you find the nail pull it out and pare out 

 the hole almost down to the quick, then drop in a few drops 

 of butter of antimony, which- will counteract any poison or 

 rust that may be left in. After this keep him quiet and apply 

 a hot poultice of half linseed and half bran for a few days 

 until he is entirely over the lameness before you work him, 



