DISEASES OF THE FETLOCK, ANKLE, AND FOOT. 417 
the corresponding quarter; owing to the stimulating effect which the 
disease has upon the coronary band. 
Complications may arise by an extension of the disease to the lat- 
eral Hgament of the coflin joint, to the joint itself, to the plantar 
cushion, and by caries of the coffin bone. 
Treatment.—Before recovery can take place all the dead cartilage 
must be removed. In rare instances this is effected by nature without 
assistance. Usually, however, the disease does not tend to recovery, 
and active curative measures must be adopted. The best and sim- 
plest treatment, in a majority of cases, is the injection’ of strong 
caustic solutions, which destroy the diseased cartilage and cause its 
discharge, along with the other products of suppuration. In favor- 
able cases these injections will secure a healing of the wound in 
from two to three weeks. While the saturated solution of sulphate 
of copper, or a solution of 10 parts of bichlorid of mercury to 100 
parts of water, has given the best results in my hands, equally as 
favorable success has been secured by others from the use of caustic 
soda, nitrate of silver, sulphate of zinc, tincture of iodin, etc. No 
matter which one of these remedies may be selected, however, it must 
be used at least twice a day for a time. The solution is injected into 
the various openings with force enough to drive it to the bottom of 
the wound, after which the foot is to be dressed with a pad of oakum, 
held in place by a roller bandage tightly applied. While it is not 
always necessary, it is often of advantage to relieve the pressure on 
the parts by rasping away the hoof over the seat of the cartilage; the 
coronary band and lamine should not be injured in the eperation. 
If the caustic injections prove successful, the discharge will be- 
come healthy and gradually diminish, so that by the end of the 
second week the fistulous tracts are closing up and the injections are 
made with much difficulty. 
If, on the other hand, there is but little or no improvement after 
this treatment has been used for three weeks, it may reasonably be 
concluded that the operation for the removal of the lateral cartilage 
must be resorted to for the cure of the trouble. As this operation 
can be safely undertaken only by an expert surgeon, it will nct be 
described in this connection. 
THRUSH. 
Thrush is characterized by an excessive secretion of unhealthy 
matter from the cleft of the frog. While all classes of horses are 
liable to this affection, it is more often seen in the common draft 
horse than in any other breed, owing to the conditions of servitude 
and not to the fault of the breed. Country horses are much less 
36444°16-—97 
