64 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



in proportion as heat follows cold, the effect is 

 produced. 



Grease often breaks out in October, when 

 the Horse's legs begin to feel the change of 

 season, and their legs become wet and cold ; 

 after coming to stable, the heat occasions 

 evaporation, and that more cold, and in pro- 

 portion as they are cold, so are they suscep- 

 tible of heat, if not governed by specific 

 limits. 



Grease may be either local or constitutional. 

 I will first speak of grease in its local form, 

 which generally is in proportion to the relative 

 temperature the parts have been exposed to. 

 Heat after cold is then an exciting cause, and 

 according to the previous cold it acts ; the 

 cold being in part governed by moisture, and 

 the length of time occupied in evaporating : if, 

 therefore, Horses' legs with much hair, hold 

 most water, and produce much cold, so will 

 they be liable to grease. 



From these facts, it is natural to conclude, 

 the practice of washing the Horses' legs, with- 

 out they are afterwards wiped dry, is bad ; 

 for, by rubbing the legs quite dry, you do to 

 the vessels of the heels, what the heart is 

 doing to the arteries, namely, increasing the 

 circulation, and thus preventing conjestion 

 and inflammation ; and if the dirt cannot be 

 perfectly rubbed off, it is better to have a 

 little dirt than a great deal of grease. 



In order, then, to avoid grease, when 

 Horses go into stable, let them have as much 

 air as you possibly can, by opening the 

 windows, that the increase of circulation may 

 be gradual. 



Many opinions have been advanced, to 

 show that grease was only local, but I con- 

 sider it, in many instances, to be thoroughly 

 constitutional; and that, from the fact of 



many Horses having it during a number of 

 years, though the greatest pains may be taken 

 with them to prevent it at any rate. " There 

 is no rule without exception," for impuri- 

 ties of the blood may be lurking in the system, 

 and Nature takes these means to get rid of 

 them, and she wisely selects those parts as 

 remote as possible from the vital principle of 

 action ; for, it is well known, where, from the 

 kind of Horse, and the care constantly taken 

 of him, we are instantly convinced it must 

 arise from diseased blood, or an hereditary 

 retention of taint sire to dam. 



Having said thus much of the nature of the 

 disease, I shall now endeavour to point out 

 the best method of cure. The first thing you 

 will have to do is, to bleed the Horse accord- 

 ing to size and condition ; take from three to 

 six quarts from him. Supposing this opera- 

 tion to be performed, give him to eat bran 

 mashes only ; indeed, regulate him as directed 

 in the chapter on conditioning hunters : at 

 night, give him one of the doses of physic, as 

 recommended at the conclusion of the same 

 article. Take a bucket of warm water, and 

 some soft soap, and well wash out the Horse's 

 heels ; free them from all skurf aud scabs, 

 dirt, and any other offensive matter that may 

 be lodged in them. This done, get for a 

 poultice four ounces of linseed meal, pour 

 sufficient hot water to make it of a proper 

 consistency ; then, just as you are going to 

 apply the poultice, have ready before a pot 

 of digestive ointment as follows : — 



Take Common Turpentine - 4 oz. 

 Hog's Lard - - - 12 do. 

 Melt together over a slow fire. 



Mix about two ounces with your poultice, and 

 fasten round the Horse's legs by means of an 



