FROTH
.—A HORSE displaying a profusion of FROTH when champing upon the BIT, either in action upon the road, or in the FIELD with HOUNDS, may be considered a distinguishing, and almost invariable sign of both good spirit and sound bottom; for a dull jade, or a HORSE of the sluggish cart breed, is very rarely to be seen with this appearance. It is also no inferior criterion of HEALTH, and may, in general, be considered truly indicative of CONDITION: few, if any, horses of this description flag upon a journey, or tire in the field.
FRUSH
.—A disorder or defect in the centrical cleft of the FROG, at the bottom of the foot, was formerly so called; but is now more generally known under the denomination of Thrush, which SEE.
FUMIGATION
—is a most useful PROCESS in all cases where the DISEASES of HORSES particularly affect the HEAD. In recent colds, obstinate coughs, glandular tumefactions under the jaws, STRANGLES, INFLAMMATION of the LUNGS, low fevers, and even in dulness, over-fatigue, or when a horse is off his appetite, and refuses food, it is very frequently of perceptible utility. Horses may be fumigated by boiling ROSEMARY, LAVENDER, MARSHMALLOW LEAVES, and CAMMOMILE FLOWERS, in a few quarts of water over the fire for a quarter of an hour, then straining off the liquor, and strewing the hot herbs from one end of the manger to the other, fastening the horse's head up with the rack rein, by which means he cannot evade the EFFLUVIA. In want of these, or where they are difficult to obtain, a mash made of GROUND MALT, with boiling water, is a very substantial and proper substitute, into which stir two ounces of aniseed, and two ounces of carraway seeds, both fresh, and previously beaten to powder in a mortar. This mash most HORSES will afterwards EAT, when sufficiently cold for the purpose; which, with the effect of the fumes upon the THROAT, the NOSTRILS, the GLANDS, and the HEAD, in general will promote a discharge, and relieve the subject.
FUNGUS
—is the too-fast shooting granulations of new flesh during the incarnation of WOUNDS, particularly in HORSES, with whom it is invariably exuberant, and requires some degree of judgment in the suppression: it is too frequently attempted by Roman vitriol, corrosive sublimate, and other caustics; but they are only productive of disappointment, in constituting an eschar upon the surface, and leaving the cure at a more remote and uncertain distance, than before their application. Slight scarifications, both transverse and longitudinal, with a LANCET or BISTORY, is a far preferable mode of treatment, and that followed by a dressing of lint covered with proper digestives.
FURNITURE HORSE
.—In many parts of the United Kingdom, the SADDLE, BRIDLE, CLOTHS, and every other part appertaining to the body of the horse, passes under the denomination of horse furniture.