GREASE. 371 



highly sensible, bleeding at the slightest touch, and interspersed with scabs. 

 By degrees, portions of the fungus begin to be covered with a horny substance 

 protruding in the form of knobs, and collected together in bunches. These are 

 known by the name of grapes. A foetid and very peculiar exudation proceeds 

 from nearly the whole of the unnatural substance. The horse evidently 

 suffers much, and is gradually worn down by the discharge. The assistance of 

 a veterinary surgeon is here indispensable. 



Some horses are more subject to grease than others, particularly draught 

 horses, both heavy and light, but particularly the former, and if they have no 

 degree of blood in them. It was the experience of this which partly contributed 

 to the gradual change of coach and other draught horses to those of a lighter breed. 

 In the great majority of cases, grease arises from mismanagement and neglect. 



Everything that has a tendency to excite inflammation in the skin of the 

 heel is a cause of grease. Therefore want of exercise is a frequent source of 

 this disease. 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, the disease is evidently still more likely 

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

 When the heels are imbedded in filth, they are weakened by the constant mois- 

 ture surrounding them irritated by the acrimony of the dung and the urine, 

 and little prepared to endure the cold evaporation to which they are exposed 

 when the horse is taken out of the stable. 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, how- 

 ever, the most common origin 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 is 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 that is produced by evaporation from a moist and wet 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 excellent 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 of 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 operation 

 of a second brushing. The trouble will not be great, 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. Na- 

 ture 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 prevents 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 



* Professor Stewart has the following ob- diseases of ,the heels have been of most fre- 



servations : " During two very wet winters quent occurrence where the horses are both 



I have had opportunity of observing the re- trimmed and washed ; they have bee'n com- 



sults of trimming and no trimming, among mon where the horses were trimmed but not 



upwards of 500 horses. More than 300 of washed, and there have been very few cases 



these have been employed in coaching and where Washing or trimming were forbidden or 



posting, or work of a similar kind, and about neglected." Stable Economy, p. 11G. 

 150 are cart-horses. Grease, and other skin 



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