The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Roctd. Ill
of the bad hoof under a powerful microscope, and
ascertain if my theory as to fungus is correct ; but, let
it be fungus or what it may, it cannot stand carbolic
acid. My reason for first trying the acid was that it
possesses the power to prevent decomposition and de-
stroying minute animal and vegetable organism.
Perhaps other substances possessing similar properties
may be as effective in seedy toe, but the writer,
being satisfied that he can cure every case of
seedy toe that comes under his care with carbolic acid,
is quite content with it without further experiment.
CANKER,
Unlike seedy toe, is mostly met with in the low breed
of horses, heavy cart and dray horses being most subject
to it. By some writers it is considered of an hereditary
nature, but I am inclined to look upon it as upon thrush,
which is in itself almost always the true cause of canker ;
and as thrush is the offspring of neglect of the foot and
bad shoeing, so is canker the offspring of a neglected
thrush ; or, I may say, thrush is the primary cause, and
canker the secondary. Still there are cases where the
canker is caused by puncture, bruise, corn, or quittor,
yet it is mostly thrush that is its primary cause. Canker
consists of a separation of the horny substance from the
sensible fleshy and bony portion of the foot, caused by
the growth of fungus matter shooting up and occupying
parts of, or the entire sole of the foot and frog. The
cause of this disease, like many others incidental to the
cart horse, is negligence in the master and groom and
the shoeing smith combined. The chief cause of canker