2i6 Common Diseases of the Horse 



Treatment. — The swelling is not easy to reduce, and time and 

 the prevention of further injury is the best method to adopt. The 

 sides of the stall may therefore be padded, and a chain and log 

 attached to the legs in an endeavour to prevent further kicking. 



If the swelling is tense and inflammation is present, it may be 

 relieved by cold-water applications as previously recommended, 

 afterwards applying cotton wool steeped in arnica, and kept in 

 position by a hock boot. A very oldfashioned remedy is whiten- 

 ing made into a paste with vinegar and smeared thickly all over 

 the swollen parts. If the swelling does not subside, and fear is 

 entertained that permanent enlargement will result, the hair may 

 be taken off as closely as possible, and the parts painted with a 

 mixture of the tincture and liniment of iodine daily until soreness 

 prevents. If blistering is preferred, this may be done with the red 

 ointment (biniodide of mercury). 



When lameness is present, and injury to the tendon, or even the 

 hock itself has been caused, rest, cold-water applications followed 

 by arnica lotion swabs, must be continued until soundness is 

 restored. 



Cracked Heels and Mud Fever 



These terms are used to denote two forms of practically the 

 same disease, which is really an inflammation of the skin of the 

 hollow of the heel and about the fetlocks. 



In some horses there is a predisposition to the complaint, arising 

 from sluggish circulation, which occurs in coarsely-bred animals. 

 Washy bays and light-coloured chestnuts, probably white-heeled 

 animals, are more prone to suffer than dark-heeled. Neglect and 

 bad stable management are invariably the chief causes. The 

 commonest cause is washing the heels with strong, irritating soaps 

 and hot water. This alone is sufficient to cause inflammation of 

 the skin of the heel ; but when the parts are not thoroughly dried 

 afterwards, or left uncovered, the risk is far greater. Another 

 common cause is washing the legs immediately after a journey 

 and when the horse is hot, and leaving them to dry of their own 

 accord. Occasionally one finds the complaint in hairy -legged 

 horses that have been worked on heavy, wet land. This causes 

 irritation or abrasion of the skin, so that unless the feet are 

 well cleansed and thoroughly dried they are very easily in- 

 fected. 



A common source is from the urine and other filth in which 

 they stand, in badly-paved and dirty stables. Neglect of grooming 

 may also be cited, as the sweat, which is of a salty nature, runs 



