RUNNING THRUSH
.—The defect so called, is a varicous state of the centrical cleft of the frog, from whence oozes a fœtid corrosive ichor, which continues to putrify and destroy the whole, in proportion to the length of time it is neglected. In many instances, where the frog seems hard and sound upon the surface, the confined acrid cause is corroding underneath, and frequently breaks out on either side; when which is the case, the hard and horny part must be superficially removed, so that the proper applications may come into immediate contact with the parts below: for so long as the diseased and disunited parts remain at top, so long is there harbour for the insinuation and retention of gravel, dirt, sand, or any other extraneous substance; and while this is permitted to continue, a regeneration of the parts destroyed cannot be expected. The leading steps to cure, are to keep the diseased frog remarkably clean, by washings with warm water and a sponge, after each time of the horse's being used, or taken to exercise. When dry, equal proportions of TINCTURE of MYRRH and FRIAR'S BALSAM (previously incorporated) should be poured upon the part, so as to admit of its reaching equally every remote interstice where the corroding cause may have penetrated; this will obtund the acrimonious property of the morbid ichor, and promote a speedy restoration of whatever may have been destroyed. Solutions of Roman vitriol, and other escharotics, are favourite applications with the lower orders; who either do not know, or will not give themselves time to consider, that their invariable effect is to contract the parts to such a degree of internal rigidity, and external horny hardness, that the frog is absolutely annihilated, the bars of the foot destroyed, the heel narrowed; the bottom of the hoof, when held up, has much the resemblance of a vacuum, of burnt appearance, as if the contents had been intentionally scooped out by gradational degrees of cauterization.