PAET VII. 



CHAPTER 50. 

 CREASE AND CEACKKD HEELS. 



761. Nature of Grease and Cracked Heels. 762. Causes. 763. Signs 

 of Grease. 764. Treatment. 765. Signs of Cracked Heels. 765a. Causes. 

 766. Treatment. 767. Conclusion. 767a. Hud Fever. 



761. Nature of Grease and Cracked Heels. 



GREASE and Cracked Heels, though cognate in 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 neglect 

 in not drying the heels, when wet ; and sometimes to allowing 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 anxiety. 



Low-bred horses are more liable 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 

 affected by external causes. 



Light " washy " coloured animals are always 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 white 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. 

 Though 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 in those breeds to which 

 such long huir is natural. 



