8 June, 1908.] Diseases of the Skin. 343 



Nature and Causes. — Some horses appear to be constitutionally pre- 

 disposed to grease and it mostly occurs in hairy -legged horses of the 

 heavier breeds and in them the affection is much aggravated if, from lack 

 of tone or want of exercise, the legs are allowed to become stocked. Given 

 such a predisposition, the causes which have been described as likely to 

 induce cracked heels in other horses, particularly prolonged exposure to wet 

 and cold, will set up an attack of grease. A large part is played in the ex- 

 tension of the disease by the irritant moisture which exudes from the already 

 affected surface as also by the accumulation of scurf and filth and by 

 the splashmg of urine in stables with insanitary floors. Indeed, grease 

 may be aptly described as a typical local filth disease. The clipping of 

 the hair at the back of the fetlock and pastern predisposes to grease, as 

 when this is done the natural protection for the skin is removed and ex- 

 posure to cold, damp and dirt is brought about. In some cases the skin 

 becomes enormously thickened and warts form in abundance all over the 

 affected surface (grapy grease). The affected parts may suppurate and the 

 discharge isi usually very foul and sickening. 



Treatment. — In mild cases the treatment recommended for cracked 

 heels may be effected, when there is much hair the dressing of the part 

 thoroughly with an ointment is a tedious matter and astringent lotions or 

 liniments (see page 194) are more likely to be effected. If the discharge 

 is foul the parts should be washed with hard soap lather and some dis- 

 infectant such as Condy's fluid applied before the healing dressing is 

 put on. 



Treatment often necessarily extends over a long period and it is found 

 advantageous for the dressing to be changed everv few davs. That this 

 may be done the following list of dressings is given : — 



Tincture of Creosote (i part creosote to 6 methvlated spirit). 

 Strong Tincture of Creolin (i part creolin to 6 methylated spirit). 

 Tincture of Sulphuric acid (i part acid to 15 methylated spirit). 

 Solution Chromic Acid (i part acid to 9 methylated spirit). 

 White Lotion (see page 159). 

 Powdered Wattle Bark. 



Oxide of Zinc and Powdered Starch, equal parts. 

 Oxide of Zinc and Powdered Charcoal, equal parts. 



Warts or Angleberries. 



The so-called warts or angleberries which affect horses and appear as 

 nodulated masses on the skin of the inner aspect in the region of the 

 thighs and arms, and on the nose and face are really fibroid tumours con- 

 tained in a capsule out of which thev mav be easily " flipped " on incising 

 with a sharp blade. In some cases on account of surface friction they 

 become sore and ulcerated on the surface and the contained tumour or 

 " kernel " becomes grown tO' the skin by productive inflammation. In these 

 cases the most effective treatment is to tie a tight ligature round the base 

 and allow them to slough off. When the base is diffuse so that it will not 

 hold a ligature the growths may be removed by dissection with the knife 

 or by the application of strong caustics or the hot searing iron. 



