A thrush, as every stableman knows, is a disease of the frog. At first there is a slight discharge from the cleft of this wedge-like protuberance. The discharge is produced by the frequent, long-continued, or excessive application of moisture. A plethoric state of the body may be a predisposing, but moisture is the immediate cause of thrushes. They can be purposely produced by stopping the feet always with a moist stopping, or by letting the horse stand always in dung. If a thrush be neglected, it spreads, involving the whole or greater part of the frog, the heels, and even the sole. The horn becomes ragged and irregular in its growth. The frog shrinks in volume, and the foot contracts. The horse is sometimes disposed to go much on his toes, that he may relieve the posterior parts of the foot; but in general he has no lameness, except when the frog comes upon a stone, or receives pressure in rough or deep ground. When in its more serious stages, the disease should be placed under the care of a veterinarian. At the beginning, almost any person may cure it. Let the cleft of the frog and all the moist crevices be thoroughly cleaned, and then fill them with pledgets of tow, dipped in warm tar. This simple remedy, repeated ever) lay, often effects a cure.

When a stronger is necessary, the Egyptiacum ointment may be used instead of the tar, or each may be applied alternately. Bad frogs may be greatly improved by shoeing with leather soles.

To prevent thrushes in feet already disposed to them, the frogs must be kept dry. If the sole need moisture, the stop ping must not be applied to the frog. This part may be defended by a coat of pitch, or the stopping may be confined to the sole.