THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 345 



FOOT ROT. 



A disease to which some have given the above name made 

 its appearance in the city of Boston in the winter of 1853, 

 and is at the present time prevailing in different parts of the 

 state. It appears to spread after the manner of sporadic dis- 

 eases, and prevails chiefly among horses of coarse breed, with 

 clumsy feet, brought on in some cases by " hard usage and sore 

 abuse." The disease luxuriates in stables that are filthy, damp, 

 and unventilated, and among horses that are constantly exposed 

 to all sorts of weather ; for it is seldom that we hear any thing 

 of the disease prevailing in horses of superior breed, located in 

 comfortable stables, where they are supposed to have that care 

 and attention so necessary for the preservation of health ; yet, 

 however potent the above causes may be, they are not in all 

 cases direct, but merely approximating. It has been observed 

 that this peculiar disease often follows injuries of the foot by 

 calking — from puncture by nail or otherwise. Here we seem to 

 have a direct cause, which may be termed special ; for such en- 

 gender distinct disease. From the fact, however, that the disease 

 is not prevalent in the summer months, we are led to infer that 

 the combinations of cold, moisture, and bad management are 

 more prolific of it than any other cause. The term foot rot does 

 not convey any definite idea of the nature of the affection, but 

 merely implies a state of rottenness, similar to that occurring in 

 sheep and cattle ; whereas this disease varies, and often passes 

 through several stages ere rottenness (gangrene) sets in. Some 

 subjects are attacked suddenly with disease of the plantar ab- 

 sorbents — deep-seated lymphatitis. In the course of a few days 

 — sometimes hours — a profuse discharge of matter, resembling 

 lymph, from the coronet takes place, and inflammatory gangrene 

 supervenes. Or a horse will all at once be seized with lame- 

 ness, continually catching up the foot, and in the course of a few 

 hours pus is seen to ooze from the orifice. Here we have two 

 stages of a disease which may progress to rot or gangrene, viz., 

 inflammatory, characterized by heat, pain, and lameness ; sup- 

 purative, of which the discharge of pus is proof positive. The 



