330 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



receive nothing more than a maintenance diet, no doubt aggravates 

 and precipitates the pathological condition known as " lymphan- 

 gitis," but it would appear that sudden cessation of work is the 

 primary factor. 



The disease may be prevented by providing regular work and by 

 giving during the week-end rest a maintenance diet having a nitro- 

 genous ratio not narrower than 1 to 8. The administration of 

 a dose of sodium sulphate or other suitable laxative on the Saturday 

 would be beneficial in removing waste products from the circula- 

 tion of lymphatic animals, and so act as a substitute for the denied 

 exercise. 



GREASE, MUD FEVER AND CRACKED HEELS. 



Mud fever and cracked heels may be described as inflammatory 

 conditions of the skin in the region of the heels and on the flexor 

 aspects of the limbs, and at times leading to the more chronic dis- 

 order known as " grease." 



Mud fever and cracked heels are common in well-bred horses, 

 while grease is more frequently seen in heavy animals. Probably 

 with the latter simple cracked heels escape notice and these becoming 

 infected the chronic form or grease results. Horses with a sluggish 

 lymph circulation are more prone to grease than are animals with 

 a quicker and more vigorous temperament. 



The cause of these conditions is to be found chiefly in exposure 

 to wet coupled with a cold wind. Frequent washing of the legs, 

 especially with soft soap which is with difficulty removed, predis- 

 poses to a cracked condition of the skin. Other agencies which 

 are at times alleged to have some connection with the causation of 

 these disorders are the chemical nature of the soil and a lack of 

 pigment, with consequent action upon the skin of ultraviolet light 

 rays. 



Horses returning from work with their legs wet and caked in 

 mud should have them bandaged so that the mud dries with the 

 exclusion of air. Next morning the mud can be readily removed 

 by brushing. The legs should on no account be washed. With 

 heavy cart horses in a commercial stable the application of woollen 

 bandages is not always practicable. Straw bandages are excellent 

 for drying the legs and keeping them warm, but have the great dis- 

 advantage that many horses will not rest with them on. It is import- 

 ant to see that such bandages are properly adjusted, otherwise the 

 animals are unable to lie down. 



