184 HOW TO PHYSIC a horse. 



parts of lard, melted together, and one part of calamine 

 powder, added when the first mixture is cooling. The 

 cracks should be persistently washed with the alum lotion, 

 and the bandage applied whenever the poultices are not 

 on the part. The benefit of carrot poultices for all affec- 

 tions where there is fever, swelling and a pustular condi- 

 tion of the skin, cannot be over-rated. Stocked legs and 

 capped hocks we have seen completely cured by them ; 

 and, on one occasion, at least, we have known incipient 

 farcy to give way before their emollient and healing influ- 

 ence. Where "the grease" has degenerated into "the 

 grapes," the aid of a veterinary surgeon must be invoked; 

 but he will rarely succeed, as the ailment is now all but 

 incurable. It is, however, only the height of neglect which 

 ever allows the ailment to degenerate into this filthy and 

 malignant stage of disease. 



Thrush. — Among the more common of the simple 

 ailments of the foot is that known as "thrush." This 

 is a discharge of offensive matter from the cleft of the 

 frog, produced by inflammation of the lower surface of 

 the sensible frog. In the fore feet, it is often the con- 

 sequence of contraction of the hoofs. It constitutes a 

 legal unsoundness, and is generally, although not always, 

 accompanied by lameness. Any moderately astringent ap- 

 plication is of advantage, but it must not be of too caustic 

 a nature. Common segyptiacum, or honey boiled with 

 vinegar and verdigris, is a good liniment ; but the best of 

 all applications is a paste, composed of two ounces of blue 

 and one of white vitriol, powdered as finely as possible, 

 and rubbed down with one pound of tar and two of lard ; 

 a pledget of tow covered with this should be introduced 

 into the cleft of the frog, as far as is possible, without un- 

 due force, every niglit, and removed before the horse goes 

 to work in the morning. The feet should be kept moist 



