86 DISEASES OF THE FEET, ETC. 



shoe on properly. I should be glad to see their use more 

 general. 



8th. Thrush. A very bad case of thrush will lame 

 a horse ; the cure for that is very simple. It is a disease 

 of the frog, caused from want of attention, fever in the 

 frog, producing inflammation and suppuration ; a very 

 noxious matter exudes from it, and renders it very tender 

 and sore to the touch, ending in a decay of the parts. 

 Have it well washed out with Cas- 

 tile soap and water, scrape out all 

 the soft particles, and when dry 

 pour in spirits of salts, it will bite 

 him pretty sharply, and cause him to 

 stamp pretty well ; when the smarting 

 THRUSH IN THE HIND FOOT, is over, stuff with fresh cow-drop- 

 pings, and let him stand on a clay floor until next day ; 

 then clean out again, and if any more noxious matter 

 follows, repeat the salts and cow-droppings; meanwhile 

 take off grain and feed him with green stuff, a week at 

 most, and possibly a few days will effect a cure : till well 

 keep up the cooling feed. 



9th. Scratches. This is the result of an impure state 

 of the blood and filthy stables, and although not an abso- 

 lute unsoundness, still a horse will stiffen from its soreness, 

 and show lame when first going out. First take off his 

 grain feed, then wash clean, soften, and take off the scaly 

 surface ; for that purpose, when soft, a corn-cob answers 

 a good purpose, but a rag will do, anything to rub the 

 top off. When dry anoint with a salve made of equal 

 parts of hog's lard and pulverized gunpowder. Keep 

 his blood cool by feeding on grass, carrot, or, in their ab- 

 sence, ship-stuff mashes, with a teaspoonful of pulverized 

 saltpetre at night. In a week he will be fit for work 

 again, and to prevent a recurrence just keep the parts 



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