DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 135 



Lateral Cartilages. — Another ailment of the foot is 

 more common than is generally supposed, called " Dis- 

 ease of the Lateral Cartilages." It requires the skill of 

 an anatomist to decide upon its presence. In fact, this 

 and navicular disease are both very obscure in their 

 origin and diagnostics, and a surgeon only can properly 

 deal with them, as well as with all other diseases that 

 are not very distinctly marked, and in their early stages 

 not important. 



Thrush. — A disease of the frog : the cleft becomes 

 eaten away, and a foul matter is secreted. It more fre- 

 quently attacks the hind than the fore feet. 



By some it is said to be constitutional, but it is much 

 more probably the result of neglect of the foot in the 

 stable, the hind feet being oftener affected, from the 

 fact of the urine and faeces coming more immediately 

 under their tread. 



At every shoeing or removing, the frog should be 

 perfectly cleared of all defective parts by the knife, and 

 where the disease has once manifested itself the cleft 

 should be kept continually stopped with tar and tow. 

 A return to a healthy state is likely to be tedious, there- 

 fore continued attention to these directions is necessary. 

 If a severe case, use a bar-shoe, to avoid the wear and 

 tear of the road, and which will also help to keep the 

 pledgets of tar and tow in their place. To prevent 

 thrush, let the litter and bedding be completely re- 

 moved from the horse every morning till bedtime at 

 night ; let the pavement be kept scrupulously clean 

 through the day ; attend and wash the feet, examine 

 them frequently, and upon the slightest sign of the dis- 

 ease use the remedial means. 



Quittor. — This is a disease of the feet, wherein, either 



