§32 THE HORSE. 
attended to if in fault, and tonics or diuretics should be given, as the 
case may require. 
GREASE. 
THE ERUPTION KNOWN AS GREASE is sometimes only an aggravated form 
of chapped heels, and is often preceded by them. At others the appear- 
ance of the disease is ushered in by constitutional symptoms, such as 
feverishness, cedema of the limbs and hidebound. The first local symptom 
is a slight swelling of the skin of the heels and adjacent parts, which 
soon cracks, and from the fissures there exudes an offensive discharge 
which looks greasy, but is really watery, being of a serous nature. It 
inflames every part that it touches, and has a tendency to cause a spread 
of the eruption in all directions, but chiefly downwards. The legs go on 
swelling to a frightful extent, and are thereby rendered so stiff and sore 
that great lameness is produced. If this stage is neglected the whole 
surface ulcerates, and a fungous growth makes its appearance, chiefly from 
the original cracks. The discharge becomes purulent and has a most foul 
smell, and the leg can with difficulty be bent at all. nally, the fungous 
excrescences cover the whole of the diseased skin, being of a bright red 
colour, and slightly resembling grapes in form, from which circumstances 
this stage has been called “the grapes.” It is now very rare to meet 
with grease in any of its forms except in the cart-stable, where the hairy 
legs of its inmates render them peculiarly prone to its attacks, from the 
time required to dry them when wet. They are so difficult to clean 
without water that the carters may well be excused for using it, but if 
they do they ought carefully to dry the legs afterwards. The treatment 
when grease is established must be founded upon the same principle as 
in chapped heels. The skin must be kept supple, and at the same time 
stimulated to a healthy action. For the former purpose glycerine is most 
valuable, being far more efficacious than any greasy dressing, such as we 
were obliged to employ before the discovery of this substance. In all the 
stages of grease, this latter agent may be employed, and as it is readily 
soluble in water it can be washed off and renewed as often as it may be 
desired. The discharge is so foul and irritating that it ought to be 
thoroughly removed at least once in twenty-four hours, and one of the chief 
advantages of the use of glycerine is that it so greatly assists this cleansing 
.process from its solubility in water. In addition to this emollient plan, 
some stimulus must be selected, and none answers so well (in all stages 
but the very earliest) as chloride of zinc. When, therefore, the heels are 
in that state that it is almost doubtful whether the disease is the mere 
chap or absolute grease, the treatment recommended for the former may 
be tried, but should this fail, the groom should at once proceed to cut the 
hair of the skin which is diseased as short as possible. Then let him 
take some soap and warm water and gently wash the parts with a sponge 
till the skin is perfectly clean and free from scab or scurf, taking care to 
remove every particle of soap by well rinsing it. Next dry the leg, and 
then with a small paint-brush rub gently into the inflamed parts enough 
of the following lotion to damp them, but not to wet them thoroughly :— 
LIV HeOliossclsoe “Ais “G55 6 46 6 oo o 5 Gil) ei 
Water. 80% sc esis se Oe pw ce ot eo ol el ppb ammmeltioxce 
A quarter of an hour afterwards apply a little glycerine over the wholo, 
and keep the parts sufficiently supple with it. If there is much. dis- 
