THRUSH. 315 



one-half or three-quarter shoe may be used in some cases. 

 The shoe recommended by Professor Williams is a very 

 good one. A short shoe, narrow at the heels, is also a very 

 good shoe. Place the animal in a loose-box, and exercise 

 him daily on the snow if it is winter. Sometimes a fungoid 

 growth springs up when suppuration has occurred ; in such 

 a case it may be subdued by argenti nitras, antimonii 

 chloride, etc., but do not pour nitric acid on it, as is a 

 favourite practice with some, or much harm may result. 



THRUSH. 



Thrush consists of an irritation set up in connection with 

 some of the sensitive structures of the foot, and more 

 especially a diseased condition of the fatty frog, and is 

 characterized by a discharge of a purulent character from 

 the cleft of the frog. 



Causes. — Thrush may be caused by standing in filthy 

 stables, and running in filthy barn-yards, hence it occurs 

 more frequently in the hind than in the front feet. It may 

 also be present in navicular arthritis, in consequence of the 

 irritation of the navicular bone reaching to and causing 

 irritation of the fatty frog. Another prolific cause of thrush 

 in horses in training is the immoderate use of cold water. 

 Stuffing the feet with cow-dung and similar irritating 

 substances also produces the condition. The heavy breeds 

 of horses are the most frequent sufferers from thrush. It 

 cannot be considered as a very serious condition, and seldom 

 produces lameness, unless the foot is placed upon a small 

 stone or something similar, when, owing to the sensitive 

 condition of the foot, the animal may go lame for a few 

 steps, and then be all right. Temperature seems to exert 

 some influence in the production of the disease, which is 

 more common in warm than in cold climates. 



Symjjtoms. — As before stated, there is a discharge of pus 



