THE FOOT IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 115 



that can be recommended is to keep the feet clean and as 

 dry as possible, along with properly applied pressure over 

 the whole surface of the frog. This can be done by means 

 of a sliding iron plate and a packing of tow, along with 

 the application of some antiseptic powder. An animal 

 may continue to work for years with its foot or feet 

 patched up in this m^anner, which is, in the writer's 

 opinion, infinitely better than keeping the horse idle, 

 contracting a large veterinary bill, with every prospect 

 of failure at the end. Canker may affect one or more of 

 the feet, and it is easily discernible by paring the frog, 

 which begins to bleed when cut, and a soft, spongy, 

 greasy-like, foul-smelling material is observable. Lame- 

 ness is commonly present, being due to implication of 

 deeper structures. 



The writer looks upon canker as a progressive and 

 practically incurable disease. 



Thrush 



This is an extremely common trouble, and in the 

 majority of instances it is due to negligence on the part 

 of the attendant. No good horse master would allow 

 this state of affairs to exist, although a badly drained 

 stable may easily lead to its production. It arises through 

 the irritation in the cleft of the frog caused by decomposing 

 organic matter, allowing this to accumulate in the feet. 

 The " foot picker " is the best preventative of thrush, 

 and no stable should be without this useful appliance, 

 but what is still more important is that of using it regu- 

 larly. The cleft of the frog, as previously stated, is the 

 seat of septic infection indicated by a suppurative in- 

 flammation and an objectionable odour. The fore or hind 

 feet may be affected, but particularly the hind, these 

 being more liable to become fouled. In nine cases out of 

 ten the existence of thrush in the feet may be accepted 

 as evidence of want of proper attention to the feet, and it 



