156 NAVIN ON THE HORSE. 



skin will go through its first stage without being noticed. But 

 when the peculiar, hot, tumid, and tender condition of the parts 

 usually the seat of the attack is observed, scratches may be ex- 

 pected, and the proper treatment should be applied. 



Very soon, however, these symptoms of active inflammation 

 subside, to a certain extent, and another train of symptoms, 

 constituting a chronic inflammation, supervene. This stage 

 of the disease is what is generally known as scratches. The 

 skin remains hot, and becomes dry and scurfy. The usual oily 

 secretion, which is very great about the heels, and which is in- 

 tended to keep the skin soft and pliable, becomes arrested 

 under the influence of inflammation, and the skin becomes like 

 a piece of scorched leather, and breaks and cracks by the ordi- 

 nary motion of the parts. These cracks may become worse and 

 worse, until the whole of the heel becomes covered with deep 

 ulcerations, shooting up masses of fungus, or "proud flesh;" 

 and as the hair-bulbs become involved in the inflammation, and 

 the scabs or scurf fall ofl*, the hair also comes off, leaving the 

 skin of the leg much of the appearance of the hide of the toad. 

 These fungus masses run an oftensive fluid ; they are tender, 

 and bleed on the slightest touch, and after awhile become cov- 

 ered with a horny scale, called grapes; and they have aptly 

 been compared, in this stage, to the coat of a pineapple. But, 

 after the cracks have become deep, the discharge generally 

 changes its character, and becomes a complete oil, having an 

 offensive smell, and the horse rapidly runs down, or loses flesh. 

 This oil or grease will burn much like lard. This I regard as 

 the third stage of the disease. 



But it must be remembered that every case will not go 

 through all these different stages, nor, indeed, even the major- 

 ity. For, as the disease is generally produced and continued by 

 negligence in attending to the horse's feet or legs, it may be ar- 

 rested, at any stage, by merely discontinuing such negligence, 

 or by very simple treatment, as rest and cleanliness, or turning 

 the horse on grass, but generally needs care. 



