PAliT VII. 



CHAPTEK 50. 

 GREASE AND CRACKI<JD HEELS. 



761. Nature of Grease and Crachd Heels. 702. Causes. 763. Sirms 

 of Grease. 764. Treatment. 765. Signs of CracJ^ed Heels. 765a. Causes, 

 ^bb. Ireatment. 767. Conclusion. 767a. Mud Fever. 



761. Nature of Grease and Cracked Heels. 



Ckea-se and Cracked Heels, though cognate iu their cause and treat- 

 ment, are separate diseases. 



762. Causes. 

 Both are due to bad stable management. They are not due to humors, 

 as Idle grooms often represent to their employers, but mainly to ne-dect 

 Ui not drying the heels, when Avet ; and sometimes to allowin- dirty^'wet 

 bedding to hang about the heels. ° 



Some horses are no doubt more predisposed than others to these dis- 

 eases ; but nevertheless the immediate causes may be summed up under 

 the general heads of neglect and bad management. 



The Author however must admit that some years ago he had a horse 

 whose heels used at times to give him considerable anx'iety. 



Low-bred horses are more lialjle than others to these affections — 

 partly because they are seldom well groomed, and partly because their 

 circulation is- not so strong as that of high-bred animals, and therefore 

 the action of the vessels of the skin is more likely to be injuriously 

 aftected by external causes. 



Light " washy " coloured animals are alwavs weak in their circulation 

 and therefore very- liable to either grease or cracked heels. Both for 

 this cause and because it is more frequently washed, a while heel is 

 oftener attacked than a dark one. 



The common practice of clipping the hair off the back part of the fet- 

 lock and heels is another frequent cause, especially in underbred animals 

 1 hough long hair about the heels is objectionable on account of the extra 

 trouble it gives to servants, yet some moderate amount of hair is needed 

 as a protection to the skin against chill, cold, wet. dirt and sand, and 

 also against excessive evaporation, especially iu those breeds to N\hich 

 such long hair is natural. 



