512 THE MANAGEMENT OF FARM HORSES 



mash with 2 drams of nitrate of potash given. When 

 horses are first turned out to grass in spring, " weed " may 

 show itself. " Tlie symptoms are rigors, trembling, quick 

 breathing, rise in temperature, and great lameness ; the leg is 

 swollen, may be held off" the ground, and is tender to the touch, 

 particularly marked at the seat of the lymphatic glands 

 inside the thigh in the hind limb and inside the arm in 

 the fore extremity, the horse walking with a stringhalty 

 action. Treatment. Give a moderate dose of physic (aloes), 

 and an anodyne draught of 2 oz. of laudanum and 2 oz. of 

 sweet spirits of nitre. Foment the leg with hot water to 

 relieve the pain, but, to avoid the formation of an abscess in 

 the groin, do not continue to foment, and dress the leg with 

 an anodyne embrocation soap liniment 2 oz., laudanum 

 2 oz., and water i pint." 



Cracked Heels is primarily an inflammation of the super- 

 ficial layers of the delicate skin in the hollow of the heels. 

 It extends to the deeper structures, and produces lameness. 

 White heels are more liable to suffer than black ones. The 

 causes are too frequent washing of horses' legs, especially in 

 cold weather, standing in damp and filthy stables, and high 

 feeding. Treatment. " Give a dose of physic, and dress the 

 heels with zinc ointment to which iodoform has been added 

 in the proportion of I to 8 ; or Goulard's solution i part, and 

 glycerine 4 parts." 



Mud Fever is a more aggravated condition akin to that 

 of cracked heels, and arises from the same causes ; but generally 

 from the lazy groom's habit of washing the legs in place of per- 

 mitting them to dry, and then cleaning them by brushing. If 

 this be practised, the legs should be thoroughly dried, or the 

 animal made to walk a mile or two before going into the stable, 

 to quicken the circulation and prevent the chilling of the skin 

 through the rapid evaporation of water. " The cutaneous 

 inflammation then extends up the legs on the inside of the 

 hocks and thighs and on to the body, and the skin is red 

 and covered with small pimples. This condition is at times 

 the result of the irritating effects of certain soils. In some 

 parts of Great Britain it is common ; in others it is almost 

 unknown." If neglected, the irritation, which begins usually 

 about the heels, may spread and make it necessary to throw 

 the animal out of work for weeks. Some horses suffer 



