ANASARCA — DROPSY. 165 



the legs, but they will be understood by the descriptions 

 given of the diseases giving rise to them. 



Symjptoms. — This disease is very sudden in its appearance: 

 the horse may be in apparently the best health, and in the 

 course of a few hours, or one night, swell enormously, from 

 the pastern or hoof to the hough, or even to the stifle. But 

 it is generally more gradual in its approach or first attacks. 

 This swelling is attended by considerable heat and pain in 

 the part, and a stiffness of the limb, rather than lameness. 

 Generally, the swelling goes down when the horse is exercised, 

 and returns again on long standing still. If the disease is 

 suffered to continue, the horse loses condition, and it may run 

 into grease or scratches. 



Causes. — Soft-footed horses, by standing too much on their 

 feet, are apt to stock. 



Treatment. — If the horse will lie down, when at rest, no 

 other treatment is necessary. If the inflammation is quite 

 high, and the horse will not lie down, he should be made to 

 stand in cold water every evening for about half an hour, 

 and the feet should be stopped at night with wet, tough clay, 

 to keep them cool ; or the legs may be frequently washed with 

 a solution of tincture of arnica. 



ANASARCA— DROPSY. 



The horse is liable to a dropsical swelling of the legs, which 

 may extend up to the body and along the belly, and consider- 

 able distance up on the chest. It is known by the character 

 of the swelling, showing that it is caused by the presence of 

 watery fluid in the soft or cellular parts of the flesh. If the 

 part swollen be pressed on by the thumb for some time, a pit 

 or depression will remain for several seconds before it will 

 again become level. 



There are several causes which may give rise to this difiS- 

 culty. It may occur m the progress of other diseases, as farcy, 



