i 
160 APTHA, OK Til KUSH IN THE HORSE. 
one of the sittings of tlie London Veterinary Medical Society, 
about the time that Mr. Price obtained his diploma from the Col¬ 
lege. The old stager observes with much interest these first efforts 
of the future supporters and stars of our profession.—Y.] 
Gentlemen, 
I HAVE the honour of proposing for discussion this evening a 
disease of the mouth, and other organs connected therewith, in the 
horse, termed Thrush; so called, I imagine, from a disease of a 
somewhat similar nature in the human being, and designated by 
the name of Thrush, or Aptha. The term is familiar to most veteri¬ 
nary surgeons; yet I have not found the disease spoken of under 
either of these appellations in any of our English veterinary 
authors. 
It is, however, of much more frequent occurrence than has 
generally been imagined ; but has been too much confounded 
with a host of other affections of a totally different nature : and, 
besides this, effects have been, generally speaking, looked upon 
as causes, and remedies applied accordingly. 
Although not directly mentioned, it is evidently alluded to by 
Blaine and White, and some others, when treating of indigestion, 
morbid condition, dyspepsia, &c. 
Gervaise Markham, who wrote nearly 250 years ago, thus 
speaks of a disease which he terms canker in the mouth,” but 
much more analogous to Antha. ‘ Canker in the mouth is 
a venemous and fretting ulcer, which proceedeth from the unna¬ 
tural heat either of the brain or stomach, which distilling in salt 
rhumes into the mouth, doth breed raw and fretting ulcers; the 
signs whereof are rawness of the mouth and tongue, blisterings, 
white furrings, and such like ; the cure whereof is. Take strong 
vinegar and alum, rubbing the sores three or four times a-day for 
two or three days together, until it be whole.” He also speaks 
of canker caused by wearing a rusty bit—canker from wearing 
an improper bit; both of which he describes as being very dif¬ 
ferent from the former ; and he also speaks of an extraordinary 
heat in the mouth and lips, which proceedeth from the stomach 
without ulceration of the mouth. 
White observes, that “ sometimes during dentition, the whole 
mouth becomes inflamed and sore, and this state generally ex¬ 
tends to the stomach, causing loss of appetite, 8cc.” In another 
place he says, young horses often fail off in their appetites, 
and at this period there is often a considerable soreness of the 
mouth, in which the mucous membrane of the stomach and 
bowels participate. During teething there is often a degree of 
soreness about the gums, when soft food should be given for a 
few days; and, as tlie stomach and bowels are sometimes affected. 
