r.RRASE AND CRACKED ITKET.S. 370 



7<'><*.. Troaimiut. 



If tlio rase is taken in its incipient state, ilie treatment is the same as 

 that reconmiended for f]jrease. After which pnt on a poultice made up of 

 warm water and the soft part of a good white loaf. After the poultice lias 

 been on the heel for a day and night, and if the poultice has had duo 

 effect, then wash and dry the heel, and put on the ointment of oxide of 

 zinc as recommended for grease. If another poultice seems necessary, 

 put on a fresh made poultice, made as above. 



Another good plan of treating cracked heels is after thoroughly wash- 

 ing and dr}'ing the heels to apply a dressing composed of carbolic acid 

 one part, glycerine or oil twenty parts, with a feather, cover with lint, 

 and carefully roll a soft, naiTow bandage round the pastern and heel. 

 This not only protects the part from cold and wet, but to a certain extent 

 prevents the heel from being flexed, and allows the cracks to heal more 

 rapidly. 



If the case has been neglected, or if the cracks do not readily heal 

 under the above treatment, a weak solution of nitrate of silver may be 

 applied. If the edges look indolent, it will be advisable to stimulate the 

 parts with turpentine liniment and to touch them occasionally with sul- 

 phate of copper or nitrate of silver. In cases where the heels are much 

 inflamed, an ointment made of acetate of lead or of oxide of zinc with lard 

 or vaseline may be used with advantage. 



Though this disease is usually associated with neglect and debility, 

 yet we occasionally find it arising from a plethoric condition combined 

 with want of proper exercise. Horses, for in<^,tance, in high condition, 

 such as hunters thrown out of work by a frost, are sometimes afi'ected if 

 not well looked after. 



Race horses,' though well groomed and exercised, occasionally suffer 

 from Greasy or Cracked Heels. The process of sweating induces the affec- 

 tion. The sweat runs down into the hollow of the heel, and this part is 

 often not covered, as it ought to be, with the bandages after work ; and 

 then the sudden evaporation of the perspiration, strongly impregnated as 

 it is with the salts of the blood, leads to disease. 



767. Conclusion. 



Horses, which have ever been affected with either of these diseases, are 

 more liable to them again than other animals. Hence in the future man- 

 agement more than ordinary care will be required. 



767a. Mud Fever. 



The somewhat inelegant term Mud Fever is applied to a form of ery- 

 thema or superficial inflammation of the skin of the legs, and frequently 

 of the surface of the abdomen. 



It is generally supposed to be caused by the irritating effect of wet 

 and dirt, and some particular kinds of clay are believed to have a pecu- 

 li(ir effect in producing this ofifection, and in these localities washing the 



