THE FROG 161 



be on it should alone be trimmed off with the drawinof- 

 knife. The level of the frog should be slightly below 

 that of the shoe. In no case should the frog protrude 

 beyond the surface of the shoe, but it should be left at 

 such a level that in soft ground it prevents the horse 

 from slipping, and in all cases is subject to a proper 

 amount of wear and tear. If this particular is closely 

 attended to, the chances are that the remaining portions 

 of the foot will also be healthy. If a frog is too much 

 cut away, and consequently fails to sustain a proper 

 amount of wear, it will become shrivelled and useless, 

 and the foot also will become unhealthy. 



Thrush is a disease of the frog caused by horses 

 being allowed to stand in dirty, ill-kept stables, and 

 from neglect in keeping their feet clean of dung, etc. 

 The disease is very apparent, for it is accompanied by 

 the most offensive smell. In aggravated cases a 

 discharge exudes from the cleft of the frog. In 

 extreme cases what is termed ' canker ' may ensue. 



No horse in a gentleman's stable should ever suffer 

 from such a disease, and it is a disgrace to all con- 

 cerned, especially to the groom. Like corns, however, 

 it is far too common. Where the bedding is changed 

 frequently, the stalls kept scrupulously clean, and 

 the horses' feet constantly picked out, thrush can 

 never occur. More thrush is contracted during the 

 idle hours of Sunday than in the remaining six days 

 of the week, by reason of the grooms leaving the 

 horses to stand for so many hours in their dung. 



Fortunately it is a disease as easily cured as pre- 

 vented. Dryness, pressure, and the use of strong 

 astringents will rapidly effect a cure. Of course it 

 must be understood that good shoeing is also a sine 



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