DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 3'Jl 



has given the best results iji uiy hands, equalh' as favorable success 

 has been secured by others from the use of caustic soda, nitrate of 

 silver, sulphate of zinc, tincture of iodine, etc. But no matter which 

 one of these remedies maj'- be selected, it must be used at least twice a 

 da}' for a time. The solution is injected into the various openings 

 with enough force to drive it to the bottom of the wound, after which 

 the foot is to be dressed with a pad of oakum, held in place by a roller 

 bandage tightly applied. While it is not always uecessarj^ it is often 

 of advantage to relieve the pressure on the parts b}^ rasping away the 

 hoof over the seat of the cartilage; the coronary band and laminaa 

 should not be injured in the operation. 



If the caustic injections prove successful, the discharge will become 

 healthy and gradually diminish, so that b}' the end of the second week 

 the fistulous tracts are closing up, and the injections are made with 

 much difficulty. 



If, on the other hand, there is but little or no improvement after 

 this treatment has been used for three weeks, it ma}' reasonably be 

 concluded that the operation for the removal of the lateral cartilage 

 must be resorted to for the cure of the trouble. As this operation 

 can be safely undertaken only by an expert surgeon, it will not be 

 described in this connection. 



Thrush is characterized by an excessive secretion of unhealthy mat- 

 ter from the cleft of the frog. While all classes of horses are liable 

 to this affection, it is more often seen in the ct)mmon draft horse than 

 in any other breed — a fact due to the conditions of servitude and not 

 to the fault of the breed. Country horses are much less sul)ject to the 

 disease, except in wet, marshy districts, than are the horses used in 

 cities and towns. 



Causes.— The most common cause of thrush is the filthy condition of 

 the stable in which the animal is kept. ISIares are more liable to con- 

 tract' the disease in the hind feet when the cause is due to filth, while 

 the gelding and stallion are more likely to develop it in the fore feet. 

 Hard work on rough and stony roads may also induce the disease, as 

 ma}^ a change from dryness to excessive moisture. The latter cause 

 is often seen to operate in old track horses, whose feet are constantly 

 soaked in the bath tub for the purpose of relieving soreness. Muddy 

 streets and roads, especially where mineral substances are plentiful, 

 excite this abnonnal condition of the frog. Contracted heels, scratches, 

 and navicular disease predispose to thrush, while by some a constitu- 

 tional tendency is believed to exist among certain animals which other- 

 wise present a perfect frog. 



Symptoms. — At first there is simply an increased moisture in the 

 cleft of the frog, accompanied by an offensive smell. After a time a 



