GREASE, 279 



partly contributed to the gradual change of coach and other draught-horses 

 to those of a lighter breed. It may, however, be affirmed, without danger 

 of error, that, in the great majority of cases, grease rises from mismanage- 

 ment and neglect ; and the farmer and the horse-proprietor would not be 

 unjust to their servants, and would materially promote their own interest, 

 if they exacted a fine for every case of grease that occurred in their stable. 



Every thing that has a tendency to excite inflammation in the skin of the 

 heel is a cause of grease. Therefore, want of exercise, for the reasons 

 which we have stated when treating of swelled-legs, is a frequent cause ; 

 the fluid which accumulates about the extremities, and is unable to return, 

 is a source of irritation by its continued pressure. When high feeding is 

 added to irregular or deficient exercise, this disease is evidently still more 

 likely to be produced. Want of cleanliness in the stable is a fruitful source 

 of this complaint. When the heels are embedded in filth they are weakened 

 by the constant moisture surrounding them, and irritated by the acrimony 

 of the dung and the urine, and little prepared to endure the evaporation 

 and cold to which they are exposed when the horse is taken out of the 

 stable. We believe, however, that the absurd practice of washing the feet 

 and legs of horses when they come from their work, and either carelessly 

 sponging them down afterwards, or leaving them to dry as they may, is by 

 far the most common ori>i;in of grease. 



When the horse is warmed by his work, and the heels share in the warmth, 

 the momentary cold of washing may not be injurious if the animal be 

 immediately rubbed dry; yet even this would be better avoided: but to 

 wash out the heels, and then leave them partially dry, or perfectly wet, and 

 suffering from the extreme cold which is produced by evaporation from a 

 wetted surface, is the most absurd, dangerous, and injurious practice that 

 can be imagined. It is worse when the post-horse or the plough-horse is 

 plunged up to his belly in the river or pond, immediately after his work. 

 The owner is little aware how many cases of inflammation of the lungs, 

 and bowels, and feet, and heels, follow. It would, therefore, be an excel- 

 lent rule never to wash the heels of these horses. After they have been 

 suffered to stand for twenty minutes in the stable, during which time the 

 horse-keeper or the carter may be employed in taking care of the harness, 

 or carriage, or beginning to dress the horse, the greater part oi^ the dirt 

 which had collected about the heels may be got rid of with a dry brush ; 

 and the rest will disappear a quarter of an hour afterwards under the opera- 

 tion of a second brushing. The trouble will not be greater, and the heels 

 will not be chilled and subject to inflammation. 



There has been some dispute as to the propriety of cutting the hair from 

 the heels. Custom has very properly retained the hair on our farm-horses. 

 Nature would not have given it had it not been useful. It guards the 

 heel from being injured by the inequalities of the ploughed field ; it pre- 

 vents the dirt, in which the heels are constantly enveloped, from reaching 

 and caking on and irritating the skin ; it hinders the usual moisture, which 

 is mixed with the clay and mould, from reaching the skin, and it preserves 

 an equal temperature in the parts. If, however, the hair be suffered to 

 remain on the heels of our farm-horses, there is greater necessity for 

 brushing and hand-rubbing the heels, and never washing them ; for the 

 water used in washing will readily penetrate through the hair, and it will 

 be absolutely impossible to get rid of it again. Indeed, we would neglect, 

 the heels altogether, or let, as many careless carters do, the dirt accumu- 

 late from month to month, rather than wash them. This would, indeed, be 

 idle and injurious treatment, but it would be by far the lesser evil. 



Fashion and utility have removed the hair from the heels of our hackneys 



