REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 311 



and others, by adopting a regular mode of feeding, work, and by- 

 preventing horses prone to it from having too long rest without 

 exercise after work, has been excessive. 



The sequela? of recurrent weed is grease and farcy ; condi- 

 tions which are brought about by impairment of the constitution, 

 and becoming hereditary from the irregularities and excesses 

 referred to, exhibiting variable phases of disease and of danger- 

 ous tendencies to other horses. 



Grease is generally defined to be an inflammation of the 

 sebacious glands at the back of the fetlocks and heels, on which 

 parts numerous pustules form, which secrete a fetid discharge of 

 purulent matter, and associated with a febrile condition of vari- 

 able extent. At first it may be looked upon as a phlegmonous 

 affection, afterwards spreading towards the hocks, being rarely 

 present in the fore limbs ; sometimes sufficiently severe to render 

 the hocks rigid and stiff. Pustules form, which contain a yellow 

 matter, and after bursting granulations sprout luxuriantly. These 

 shortly afterwards are covered by an encrustation or scab, which 

 is removed on the application of slight friction, exposing a white 

 surface with numerous bleeding orifices. The surface is occupied 

 with ulcers and enlarged papilla?, and the latter has the appear- 

 ance of being arranged not unlike the clustering of grapes, from 

 which similarity the term " grapy" has been applied. 



The limb becomes enormously enlarged, and sometimes 

 abscesses form in various parts of the leg from inflammation of 

 the lymphatics, at other times farcy buds appear, or the frog and 

 sole is involved, and constitutes the variety of disease termed 

 canker. The causes are commonly found in low damp marshy 

 soils, want of cleanliness, low bred horses, and particularly those 

 with white heels are most subject to its attacks. 



Treatment. — Early cases only are curable. Chronic cases are 

 associated with constitutional taint. Use poultices freely, with 

 dressings of chloride, or the sulphate of zinc, but care must be 

 taken not to omit during their use laxatives and nitrate of pot- 

 ash, as described under weed, as fatal cases have been known to 

 occur by arresting the secretion and discharge too rapidly. 

 Sulphuric acid, half an ounce ; sulphate of copper, one ounce, 

 and water, one quart, will form an admirable lotion. Ointment 

 of lead and zinc will also be found useful. Let the skin of the 

 body be well cleaned every day, give moderate exercise, institute 

 habits and practices of cleanliness, and in chronic cases use half 

 an ounce of Fowler's solution of arsenic morning and night in 

 the food for some weeks. 



This disease is not so often seen as formerly, owing to the 

 advancement of knowledge as regards the management of horses. 

 Years ago, whole studs of caxt horses were annually consigned to 

 the knacker as incurable, either having become useless for 



