Common Diseases of the Horse 217 



down into the hollow of the heel, and unless it is removed it leads 

 to disease. 



Symptoms. — In cracked heel the skin becomes hot and swollen 

 and the surface covered with a reddish-brown discharge, which 

 afterwards dries and forms a crust. 



This in time cracks and leads to the formation of various 

 fissures. When first brought out of the stable the horse goes very 

 stiff. This soon wears off at exercise, but occurs again after resting 

 a short time. In mud fever the swelling may extend higher up the 

 limb, and sometimes the lower surface of the belly becomes affected. 

 There is heat and pain present, and the hair and even parts of 

 the skin may fall off. 



Treatment. — Prevention should be always aimed at. The legs 

 should always be thoroughly dried after being wet; the best 

 method is to rub them well with sawdust, peat moss, or, failing 

 these, soft cloths or bran may be used. If they are washed, a mild 

 soap should be used. Soft soap and other strong soaps should be 

 avoided. If hot water is used, in addition to being dried, particu- 

 larly in thin-skinned horses and those with short hair on their legs, 

 woollen bandages should be applied, and care taken that the heels 

 are included. 



Actual treatment, for a speedy recovery, requires rest, as move- 

 ment causes fresh cracks to form, and keeps up the inflammation. 

 The affected parts must be washed with a mild soap and warm 

 water, a weak disinfectant applied, such as Jeyes's fluid, creolin, 

 chinosol, or any of the coal-tar products, and afterwards dried with 

 a clean soft cloth, and a dry dressing put on of iodoform i, boracic 

 acid 3; or iodoform i, tannin 3. If an ointment is preferred, i part 

 of red oxide of mercury to 7 parts of vaseline or lanoline may be 

 used, and this is best applied by smearing it on tow or cotton wool, 

 laying it on the parts and bandaging to keep it in position. 



It is important that after the first washing no further wetting of 

 the parts must be allowed. 



Simple cases generally take about a week to recover. Severe 

 ones, in which wounds of considerable size have occurred, and 

 where there are portions of dead tissue, take a longer period. The 

 dead portions require removal, and very careful attention is neces- 

 sary to prevent the formation of abscesses or even quittor. 



