DISEASES OF THE FOOT AND SHOEING 195 



THRUSH 



Thrush results from lack of care to the feet. It is characterized 

 by an abnormal secretion from the cleft of the frog. When the 

 horse is allowed to stand in a filthy place where much moisture is 

 present the horn becomes soft and loose, its pores open up, and 

 infection enters. The symptoms are the discharge of a dark-colored 

 pus, with a very offensive odor. This may later become profuse 

 and undermine the horn of the frog. There is some heat notice- 

 able in the affected foot and the hoof dries out and gets brittle. 

 Treatment consists in providing a clean, dry stall. All the loose 

 portions of horn should be pared away so that a dressing may be 

 applied directly to the diseased parts. After thoroughly washing 

 and drying the foot, powdered calomel, copper sulphate, or burnt 

 alum may be packed into the crevices. 



FOUNDER OR LAMINITIS 



This is a painful disease, resulting from congestion of blood be- 

 tween the sensitive and horny laminae of the feet. It is often 

 called "water founder," from its appearance soon after watering 

 a very hot or tired horse. The fore feet are most commonly 

 affected. 



Acute laminitis is the form in which founder first appears. Its 

 causes are overfeeding, or feeding too soon after violent exercise; 

 large draughts of cold water when very warm; concussion from 

 excessive driving on hard roads ; lack of exercise leading to retarded 

 circulation of blood in the feet; undue pressure on one foot from a 

 painful condition in the opposite foot; circulatory disturbances 

 coincident with parturition or indigestion. 



The disease is ushered in with a chill. There is profuse sweat- 

 ing, rapid breathing, groaning from pain, loss of appetite, and a rise 

 of temperature (103° to 104° F.). The feet are hot, very tender to 

 taps with the hammer, and there is a distinct pulsation in their 

 arteries. The animal exerts every effort to take the weight off the 

 fore feet where the pain is intense. When standing the hind legs are 

 placed well forward under the body to get as much relief as is 

 possible. A foundered horse cannot be made to back; he even 

 moves forward unwilhngly. 



The patient will be given great relief by cold-water applications 

 to the feet. An easy way to apply moist cold is to saturate gunny 

 sacks with water, or the animal may be made to stand in a foot- 



