PECULIAR TO HORSES. 23 , 



system abounds in morbific matter the same is very apt to gravitate 

 towards the heels — they being most remote from the centre of circu- 

 lation — inducing inflammation of the skin of the heels, distinsion of 

 the sebaceous glands, and a stinking and unhealthy deposit on the 

 surface, and a purulent discharge through ulcerated cracks : this 

 constitutes Grease. 



It is contended by Mr. Blain and others, that " Grease has local 

 weakness for a cause. As fluids press, not in proportion to their 

 diameter, but to the height of their column, the venous blood 

 must find some difliculty in its ascent. Debility is therefore more 

 felt in the distended vessels remote from the influence of the heart, 

 under which circumstance the effects productive of Grease necessa- 

 rily ensue." 



Some horses are constantly the subjects of swelled legs, and if 

 the heels happen to be accidentally abraded, the latter often operates 

 as the exciting cause of a very formidable affection of the heels. 

 Associated with the swelled legs is a scurfiness of the skin beneath 

 the fetlock; these conditions, together with the fact that the animal 

 is of the lymphatic temperament, (gray color,) are sure indications 

 that a predisposition to maladies of the above character is present. 

 Having such horses under our cai-e, the chief object should be to 

 ward ofl" an attack, by dietetic and hygienic measures ; too much 

 washing of the heels without drying them by rubbing, is just about 

 as bad as if the filth was allowed to remain ; the practice chills the 

 part by a process of slow evaporation, and the result is local con- 

 gestion, &c. 



I propose to illustrate, for the benefit of the reader, the treatment 

 of Grease : 



July 15th. Was requested to see a gray gelding, the property of 

 the Transfer Company of St, Louis. On arrival I found him to be 

 a large, flabbily organized creature, having a large amount of loose 

 tissue under the skin. I found that there was a bad odor arising 

 from sorne ulcerations and exudations about the heels and sides of 

 the same ; intermediate of the ulcers were dry horny scabs, the hair 

 about the parts pointing straight out; the heel was excessively ten- 

 der, quite vascular, and blood escaped from its vessels. The mo- 

 ment a hand was placed upon the locality, the animal would catch 

 up the limb and appear to suffer miTch pain. 



Treatment. — In the first place I had the parts well cleansed with 

 3oap and water ; then after wiping the parts dry, they were wetted 

 three times daily with a portion of the following solution : 



Nitrate of Potass (Saltpetre) 3 ounces. 



Water 1 pint. 



Glycerine 4 ounces. 



Every time the solution was applied, the parts were dusted with 

 pulverized charcoal; this charcoal completely covering the abraded 

 parts, and being a good antiseptic, had a very excellent effect in ex- 

 cluding atmospheric air and in correcting the fetid odor. 



I administered as an alterative to correct the morbid habit, twenty 

 grains of iodide of potass ; four drachms of sulphur ; two drachms 

 of powdered sassafras bark ; one drachm of gentian ; these were 



