112 DISEASES OF THE HOESB. 



Fractures of the teeth take place often, and where they 

 are very loose in the head, they had better be taken out 

 altogether, and rasp the sharp points of the broken ones 

 with a file or rasp, to prevent cutting the mouth when the 

 horse is chewing. 



Ftingi as a Cause of Disease. — Much has been said 



and written of late years of minute fungi being the cause 

 of diseases. Dr. Lassaure has made experiments with 

 pencellum, etc., and concludes from them that fungus is 

 not a cause, but an accidental presence. In contradiction 

 of Hallier, and I might truthfully say of many other per- 

 sons, it has been shown that nothing is to be gained in the 

 study of the causes of disease by cultivating microscopic 

 fungi, and it cannot be regarded as a contagious element 

 until we have succeeded in producing disease from art. 



Frost Bites. — The results of frost bites may be called 

 chilblains, which again give rise to extreme swellings of the 

 heels and back parts of the hind legs, until finally the skin 

 gives way, terminating in sores and ulcers that may at once 

 be taken for scratches. The sores are deeper in such cases 

 than in scratches or greasy legs, but closely resemble 

 Phagadena, (which see.) In the worst cases we have seen, 

 the skin and flesh shoughed, followed by gangrene or 

 mortification of the leg, and death of the horse from the 

 poison thus produced and absorbed. We have seen several 

 cases of frost bites in different stages and severities, and 

 which, in all cases, was the result of broken and imperfect 

 doors facing the northern exposure, and behind which stood 

 the hind legs and heels of the horse. 



Treatment. If the legs be found, on opening the stable, 

 to \iv swollen and painfiil, rub the parts with snow or ice- 

 coV* vfnier, then follow gradually with warmer water, a 



