DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 
316 
Causes. — Standing in wet and filth, or anything that will 
rot the frog causes it. Heavy horses are more subject to this 
disease than light horses. 
Symptoms. — These are very plain. He may be only 
slightly lame, but if he steps on anything very hard he 
flinches. By examining the foot you find that the centre of 
the frog is eaten out by the disease, and there is a discharge 
which has a very bad smell. 
Treatment. — Keep him out of the wet and dirt, and the 
stable very clean. Cut ofif the dead horn from around the 
frog and wash out the diseased part with warm water and a 
little soap. After it is cleaned well, poultice with a hot 
poultice of half linseed meal and half bran for a few days 
until the foot is nice and soft; after this clean the poultice 
out of the frog and dust in some dry calomel about twice a 
week until it is better. Another cheap treatment is to pack 
the foot full of common salt a couple of times a week. 
Another is to pour a few drops of butter of antimony into the 
diseased foot once a week. Do this until all the discharge 
and smell is gone from the frog. Then leave the frog alone 
until it goes down itself. 
6. Injuries from Nails (Punctures). 
Causes. — Such injuries are frequently met with, espe- 
cially in large cities. As soon as a horse shows signs of 
lameness the bottom of the foot should be examined at once 
to see whether or not some sharp object such as a nail has 
punctured or penetrated the bottom of the foot. 
Symptoms. — If in the hind foot he knuckles over and 
becomes lame very suddenly. If in the front foot he points it 
out while standing, and when he steps puts as little weight 
on it as possible, hopping on the sound leg. Examine the 
foot and you may find the nail itself; if not, by tapping 
around the foot with a small hammer you find where the 
tender spot is ; then pare around it and you will find a small, 
black spot where the nail entered. 
Treatment. — If you find the nail pull it out and pare out 
the hole almost down to the quick, then drop in a few drops 
of butter of antimony, which will counteract any poison or 
rust that may be left in. After this keep him quiet and apply 
a hot poultice of half linseed and half bran for a few days 
until he is entirely over the lameness before you work hfm. 
