ii6 THE HORSE 



is to a large extent preventable. As a rule it is not a 

 difficult matter to cure it, and the farrier usually puts in 

 a stopping of tar and tow, which may or may not be 

 effective, according to the stage at which the disease has 

 arrived. A solution of chloride of zinc or sulphate of 

 zinc, ten grains of either to each ounce of water, will 

 usually effect a cure if applied twice a day for a few days 

 consecutively, but it is useless to try to treat this 

 affection if the source of irritation is still allowed to exist. 

 As a dry dressing equal parts of powdered boracic acid, 

 calcined magnesia, and powdered starch makes an 

 excellent application. Thrush varies in its severity. 

 Sometimes it is extremely slight, whereas in other 

 instances the frog may be partly underrun, and lameness 

 even result. The cleft of the frog should always be packed, 

 when treating this disease, with tow. 



Side-bone 



The pedal-bone has, attached to its wings, two flexible 

 plates of cartilage which project backwards and upwards 

 at the heels. These are known as the lateral cartilages. 

 It is quite common to speak of side-bone as an 

 ossification of these structures. There is a considerable 

 amount of interest attachable to the lateral cartilages 

 and their relationship to limbs. The author believes 

 that side-bone is quite a common cause of lameness, and 

 the majority of veterinary surgeons are in agreement 

 with this. Specimens obtained and examined after death 

 by the writer afford positive proof as to this being the 

 cause of lameness. Doubtless a certain percentage of 

 side-bones never cause the slightest inconvenience, as 

 the writer has known horses to have large side-bones, yet 

 remain free from lameness; in fact, the majority of cart 

 horses working in towns have side-bone. There is a 

 natural tendency for the lateral cartilages to become 

 calcified — " ossified " — this being a degenerate change 



