THRUSn.] 



MODEEN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 



[riiuL'sit 



to admit a large probe. Neither the bone nor 

 tlio lamina', liowevor, are exposed, but arc 

 still protected by the internal portion of tlio 

 crust. Tlio only thing to bo done is to anoint 

 the foot ocoaeionally, particularly the allocted 

 part, with tar and grease. A blister may 

 also be applied to excite the development of a 

 new growth of horn, that which has become 

 dry and brittle being occasionally cut away." 



THRUSH. 



TJirusJi is well known to be a disease of the 

 frog of tlie foot, and is defined to be a rupture 

 of the cleft of the frog, from which is dis- 

 charged a highly oftensive kind of foetid or 

 ichorous matter. In fact, this complaint con- 

 sists of a diseased action of the sensitive frog ; 

 for, instead of secreting that elastic horny 

 substance, composing the healthy frog, it se- 

 cretes pus, which escapes between the cleft of 

 the horny frog. 



Some consider it as of trifling importance, 

 but we have seen it of the greatest conse- 

 quence, and would recommend great caution 

 in the treatment of thrush, though almost 

 every groom has a sovereign remedy for it ; 

 but he probably looks no further than the seat 

 of the disease, not thinking that another affec- 

 tion of the foot is proceeding rapidly, as 

 thrush will sometimes lay the foundation for 

 contraction, by the excitement of the parts 

 around. 



The disease is frequently produced by mois- 

 ture ; more especially if it be of an acrid ten- 

 dency, as that of dung, urine, &c. ; but in this 

 case, the hind feet are generally the parts most 

 aflected, from their being more in the dung 

 and urine ; and there is great danger of its 

 producing grease and canker, if sufiered to go 

 on for a length of time. Contraction is a 

 cause of thrush, by squeezing the heels to- 

 gether, until the rupture of the frog takes 

 place. It is not, however, a general cause, as 

 there are many contracted feet without thrush. 

 The difierent actions of the secreting organs | 

 is here made plain ; the inflammatory action I 

 going on in sensitive lamina?, increases the ' 

 growth of horn, so that the frog never comes 

 in contact with the ground: this, of course, 

 promotes contraction, and the contraction rup- 

 tures the frog; and all for want of what? 

 taoiQ frog-pressure ; for as the frog is deprived 

 2s 



of its nJiiavvX frog-prcssurc, so do the lieols con. 

 tract, and so will tho fni<r become ducn-ased ; 

 consequently, diminishing tho secretion of 

 horny frog. A horse, with an open tiirush, 

 or what is termed a running thru.sli, cannot bo 

 considered safe; for a Btono getting into tho 

 cleft of tho frog, will invariably bring him 

 down, from tho great pain which the pre.s:iuro 

 of this foreign substance gives him. 



It has been argued by some very clever men, 

 that thrush is purely local ; but wo have seen 

 many cases where it has been constitutional. 

 For example, many horses which have had 

 thrushes, have had them stopped, the parts all 

 dried up, and clean feet brought to view. But, 

 in a few weeks' time, examine their eyes, and 

 it is ten to one but they will be found either 

 Mind, or going blind. AVe have used all kinds 

 of depletive medicine ; also tonics ; but all to 

 no purpose. Should there be fear of the horse 

 losing his sight, it is better to put up with 

 thrush, which can easily be again produced, by 

 stopping the fore feet with hot horse-dung for 

 a couple of nights. 



Thrushes are generally stopped with littb 

 difficulty. Almost every astringent will stop 

 the flowing of thrush. We have known them 

 stopped with tincture of myrrh and tow; but 

 in such cases we should not class thrush ainonjr 

 the constitutional, but among the local diseases. 

 Further, horses seldom or ever, with such 

 thrush, go lame, unless it is allowed to go on, 

 when the inflammation, in consequence, pro- 

 duces contraction. Tar alone is a very good 

 remedy. The following is what we have gene- 

 rally used : — 



Calamine, prepared . . . . 1 oz. 



Wliite Vitriol 1 drachm. 



Tur 3 oz. 



Mix well together; but before using, the frog 

 should be well examined, and all the decayed 

 parts, sinuses, or wherever the discharge has 

 made its way, removed, so that the applicatioa 

 may be thoroughly applied. This will, also, 

 prevent a further harbour for dirt and mois- 

 ture. The whole frog must now be smeared 

 well over with tho mixture ; then a pledget of 

 tow taken, well charged with it, and forced to 

 the bottom of the cleft of the frog, and into 

 every other fissure or opening that may be, 

 omitting none. The back parts of the frog, 

 where it joins the heels, are sometimes cracked. 



313 



