HUNTERS 173 



The frog requires great care, for it is the 

 cushion of the foot to prevent jar. It should 

 have the ragged portions just neatly trimmed off, 

 lest they become pockets to contain dirt, when 

 suppuration is often set up ; but nothing more 

 should be cut away than is absolutely necessary. 

 Neglect will encourage suppuration in the cleft 

 (which is termed " thrush ") ; but if the frog is 

 constantly dressed with the tar ointment there 

 should be no danger of its occurrence. When, 

 however, it is found to be present, and there is an 

 offensive discharge, sulphate of copper should be 

 applied in the proportion of half an ounce of 

 sulphate of copper to six ounces of tar. 



If the frog is very extensively diseased, all the 

 affected part should be cut away until sound 

 horn is reached, even to the extent, if necessary, 

 of paring down to the quick. A new sound frog 

 will soon grow. In this case a bar shoe must be 

 put on for a few weeks, until the new frog is 

 sufficiently grown to perform its proper func- 

 tions. The tar dressing should be continually 

 used, as long as necessary. 



Over the frog, in the interior of the foot, and 

 behind the junction of the lower pastern and 

 coffin bone, is situated the little navicular bone 

 whose chief function is to lessen the jar of 

 concussion to the leg. It not unfrequently 

 becomes the seat of disease in itself, for which 

 nothing much can be done ; though any foot lame- 

 ness is often called navicular through ignorance. 

 A horse suffering from this complaint usually 

 rests his foot on the toe, taking all the weight 

 he can off the heel. "When exercised he goes 

 chiefly on his toes, and though hardly able to 

 move at first, the lameness generally wears off 

 in soft ground as he gets warm, but is worse 



