112 HUNTING. 



when the horse should be shod with a leathern sole of the strongest 

 hide, and the hoof should be stuffed with tow, saturated with the 

 above dressing. This will enable the horse to resume moderate 

 work without injury to the corn. Corns most frequently arise 

 from shoes being left on too long, whereby the inner heel of the 

 shoe works in and presses on the sole between the crust and the bars. 



Sandcrack consists in a separation of the fibres of the hoof, 

 owing to a want of gelatinous secretion. The treatment should 

 consist in cutting the edges of the cracks with a knife until the 

 crust is thinned so as to be flexible ; a poultice should then be ap- 

 plied for two days ; after which the whole crust must be dressed with 

 some stimulating application, which should be continued for some 

 months. The best ointment consists of equal portions of grease 

 and oil of turpentine for the first month, after which the turpen- 

 tine should be considerably diminished. The horse should have his 

 shoes removed entirely, and be put to stand on a deep bed of tan, 

 fresh from the tanner's yard. Tan can be procured anywhere, and 

 is the only proper material for litter when the hoof is thus diseased. 



Thrush proceeds from various causes, but inflammation of the 

 frog is the immediate cause. Some horses have very soft frogs, 

 which will become diseased by the application of cow dung as a 

 stopping, and contact with straw saturated with urine, which causes 

 irritation to the sensitive frog, and this contracts a diseased secre- 

 tion which exudes through the cleft of the frog. If allowed to go 

 on this will assume an ulcerative form, which will most probably 

 terminate in canker. This kind of thrush is best treated by care- 

 fully avoiding the exciting cause, by strict attention to providing 

 dry litter, as well as by applying a lotion consisting of 2 scruples 

 of chloride of zinc to the half-pint of water, three times daily. 

 When thrush results from plethora, cooling diet and alteratives 

 should be given, and the frog dressed with common tar ; and if the 

 secretion does not abate, the chloride of zinc lotion should be tried. 



When either fever in the feet or navicular disease gives rise to 

 thrush, the cleft of the frog must be left free, and the exciting causes 

 treated as recommended hereafter. A horse with a thrush should 

 not be ridden without knee-caps ; for if he bruise the frog, he will 

 generally fall and cut his knees severely. 



Quittor consists in an internal abscess of the foot, forming in 

 sinuses. The parts surrounding the os coronae are generally en- 

 larged and puffy, and hot and tender to the touch, followed, unless 

 relieved, by a bursting of one of the abscesses at the superior border 



