LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
245 
sometimes, so strong is the reproductive secretory process that 
we can hardly repress the growth of fungus ; this, however, does 
not evince actual spread of the disease from part to part, but 
only the excited condition of such parts as are already in a 
state of disease. Still, this is only the case at certain times 
and in certain places; for every now and then it happens that 
the disease assumes a chronic, indolent, inactive form altogether, 
neither spreading nor healing. As might be anticipated from 
what has been said 
Lameness is by no means remarkable in Canker. 
So far from it, indeed, looking at the condition of the foot, we 
are apt to feel surprised to find how firmly the horse steps upon 
it, and, after the diseased parts have been compactly bound up 
— providing no very sharp dressings have been used — how well 
he is able to do his work with it. When, however, the fungous 
growths have been cut or burnt off, and caustic dressings have 
been applied to the sensitive tissues, intense pain, and in most 
cases inflammatory action as well, follows the dressing, and for 
some time continues ; indeed, in some instances, so great is the 
suffering for a time that the animal is entirely taken off his feed 
by it. 
The Causes of Canker may be conveniently considered 
under the headings of 'predisposing and exciting . 
Predisposition to the disease is said to lurk in “ the heavy 
breed of cart horses and certainly the disease has appeared 
oftener in such horses than in others ; but whether this origi- 
nates in any “ constitutional predisposition,” or whether it be 
simply referrible to the fact that such horses, from their habits, are 
more likely than others to contract canker, appears questionable. 
From the army, wherein canker once was so great a pest, it has, by 
attention to shoeing and stable management, been entirely ba- 
nished ; and there seems no good reason why the same end by 
the same means should not be put to the disease in cart and 
dray and wagon horse establishments. Farmers, whose horses 
in general are worse shod and looked after than those of other 
people, in some parts of the country, were at one time known to 
be, in too many instances, sad sufferers from losses by canker ; 
now-a-days, however, since reform has found its way into the 
farm-yard, and improvement into the country shoeing-forge, but 
little complaint is heard in general about the disease. In fact, 
in the epidemic and malignant forms in which canker formerly 
prevailed, the eruption and character of the disease was clearly 
owing to neglect and mismanagement. 
Exciting Causes. — Supposing canker, since its primary 
seat is ordinarily the cleft of the frog, originates in, or is but a 
sequel of, frush, the same causes which occasion one may be 
