DISEASES OF HORSES. 391 



likewise becomes quick and hard, and the horse evidently 

 labors under considerable fever. It is acute inflammation of 

 the cellular substance of the legs, and that most sudden in 

 its attack, and most violent in its degree, and therefore atten- 

 ded by the effusion of a considerable quantity of fluid into 

 the cellular membrane. It occurs in young horses, and in 

 those which are over-fed and little exercised. Fomentation, 

 diuretics, or purgatives, or, if there is much fever, a moderate 

 bleeding will often relieve the distcntion almost as suddenly 

 as it appeared. 



The cure, when the case has not been too long neglected, 

 is sufficiently plain. Physic, or diuretics, or both, must be 

 had recourse to. Mild cases will generally yield to their 

 influence ; but, if the animal has been negleted, the treat- 

 ment must be decisive. If the horse is in high condition, 

 these should be preceded or accompanied by bleeding ; but if 

 there are any symptoms of debility, bleeding would only 

 increase the want of tone in the vessels. Horses taken from 

 grass and brought into close stables very speedily have swelled 

 legs, because the difference of food and increase of nutriment 

 rapidly increases the quantity of the circulating fluid, while 

 the want of exercise takes away the means by which it might 

 be got rid of. The remedy here is sufficiently plain. Swelled 

 legs, however, may proceed from general debility. They 

 may be the consequence of starvation, or disease that has 

 considerably weakened the animal ; and these parts, being 

 farthest from the center of circulation, are the first to show 

 the loss of power by the accumulation of fluid in them. Here 

 the means of cure would be to increase the general strength, 

 with which the exlremeties would sympathise. Mild diuretics 

 and tonics would therefore be evidently indicated. 



Horses in the spring and fall are subject to swelled legs. 

 The powers of the. constitution are principally employed in 

 providing a new coat for the animal, and the extremeties have 

 not their share of vital influence. Mingled cordials and diu- 

 retics are indicated here the diuretic to lessen the quantit)' 

 of the circulating fluid, and the cordial to invigorate the frame. 

 GREASE. Swelled legs, although distinct from grease, is 

 a disease that is apt to degenerate into it. Grease is a spe- 

 cific inflammation of the skin of the heels, sometimes of the 

 fore-feet, but oftener of the hinder ones. Bad stable manage- 

 ment is the true cause of it. Grease is a local comp'aint. 

 The heel should be we'.l but gently washed with soap and 

 water, and as much of the scuif detached as is easily remo- 



