diseasp:.s of the house. 399 



bruise of the frog. 



When the frog is severe!}' bruised the injiny is followed by suppu- 

 ration beneath the horn, and at times by partial gangrene of the 

 plantar cushion. 



Causes. — A bruise of the frog generally happens from stepping on 

 a rough stone or other hard object. It is more apt to take place when 

 trotting, running, or jumping than when at a slower pace. A stone 

 wedged in the shoe and pressing on the frog or betAveen the sides of 

 the frog and the shoe, if it remains for a time, produces the same 

 results. A cut through the horny frog with some sharp instrument 

 or a punctured wound b}'^ a bhuit pointed instrument may also cause 

 suppuration and gangrene of the plantar cushion. Broad, flat feet 

 Avith loAV heels and a fleshy frog are most lialde to these injuries. 



Si/mptoms. — Lameness, severe in proportion to the extent of the 

 bruise and the consequent suppuration, is always an early symptom. 

 When the animal moves the toe onl}- is placed to the ground or the 

 foot is carried in the air and the patient hobbles along on three legs. 

 W^hen he is at rest the foot is set forward Avith the toe on the ground 

 and the leg flexed at the fetlock joint. As soon as the pus finds its 

 Avay to the surface the lameness improves. If the frog is examined 

 early the injured spot may usuall}- be found; later, if no opening 

 exists, the pus may be discovered Avorking its waj- toward the heels. 

 The horn is loosened from the deeper tissues, and, if pared through, 

 a thin, yellow, AvaterA' and offensive pus escapes. In other cases a 

 ragged opening is found in the frog, leading doAvn to a mass of dead, 

 sloughing tissues, Avhich are pale green in color if gangrene of the 

 plantar cushion l?as set in. In rare cases the coflinbone may be in- 

 volved in the injury and a small portion of it become carious. 



Treatment, — If the injury is seen at once, the foot should be placed 

 in a bath of cold water to prevent suppuration. If suppuration has 

 already set in, the horn of the frog, and of the bars and branches of the 

 sole if necessarj^, is to be pared thin so tluit all possible pressure ma}' be 

 removed, and the foot poulticed. When the pus has loosened the horn, 

 all the detached portions are to be cut away. If the pus is discharging 

 from an opening near the hair, the Avhole frog, or one-half of it, will 

 generally be found separated from the plantar cushion, and is to be 

 removed with the knife. After a fcAV days the gangrenous portion of 

 the cushion will slough oflf from the effects of the poultice; under rare 

 circumstances only should the dead parts be removed by surgical inter- 

 ference. When the slough is all detached, the remaining Avound is to 

 be treated with simple stimulating dressings, such as tmcture of aloes 

 or turpentine, oakum balls, and bandages as directed in punctured 

 wounds. When the lameness has subsided, and a thin layer of new 

 horn has coA'ered the exposed parts, the foot may be shod. Cover 



