692 
OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
we so often meet with in our examinations. Formerly it was 
considered a suspicious affair when rings were observed upon 
the wall of the foot. It was supposed, the subject of it had 
been recently recovered from an attack of laminitis. At the 
present day, I think, we have become wiser, and have almost, 
if not entirely, dropped the suspicion. This has, however, 
given place in some minds to another and graver affair. It 
has been said that horses found to have rings upon the hoof 
are suffering from navicular-thritis, or some other severe 
affection, and that laminitis has no existence at all, except, as 
the result or consequence of some other complaint. If this 
be true, there has been a large amount of malpractice during 
the last half century. Doubtless this is to be found in some 
cases, indeed, we know it to be so. There is one particular form 
of foot I frequently see at the breeders’ homesteads ; the 
upper two thirds of the hoof apparently well formed and 
well developed, and the lower third, and sometimes more, 
turned upwards from the ground surface. I am now referring 
to feet without shoes, and more particularly to unshod feet A 
little management would prevent all this. We occasionally 
find breeders’ colts so far neglected up to two years old, that 
the growth of horn on one side has so outgrown the other 
that malformation of limb is the consequence, and much 
time, trouble, and expense, are necessary before the parts 
interfered with have assumed their perfect form ; and in some 
cases the feet never regain their original shape. 
Thrush or Frush. 
By some writers the latter term is employed for this disease, 
which is of frequent occurrence, and as there is such a diver¬ 
sity of opinions with reference thereto, it may be advisable 
to dwell a little upon the consideration of the nature of the 
disease and its tendencies. Markham, and most of the 
ancient writers, have named the disease “ Frush.” Percivall 
has also given to it the same appellation, and moreover, he 
has advanced an authority for using that term in preference 
to the word <e Thrush.” 
I have before had occasion to remark, it matters but little 
as to terms employed by us so long as we understand each 
other. At the same time, it is well to make a proper appli¬ 
cation of all terms. 
Smart gives (t Frush” as the English of the German 
“ Frosch a sort of tender horn that grows in the middle 
of the sole of a horse’s foot; the same as frog . 2nd. A 
discharge of a fetid or ichorous matter from the frog of a 
