GREASE. 277 



tion, far removed from the centre of the circulation. It is likewise exposed 

 to more variations of temperature than any other part of the frame. As 

 the horse stands in the closed stable, the heat of the part is increased by 

 being deeply imbedded in straw. When the stable-door is open, the heela 

 are nearest to the door, and most powerfully receive the current of cold 

 air; and when the horse is taken from the stable to his work, the heels are 

 covered with mire and wet, and chilled by the slow and long process of 

 evaporation, which is taking place from them. We cannot wonder then at 

 the frequency with which the heels are attacked with inflammation, nor the 

 difficulty there is in subduing that inflammation. In the winter season, 

 chaps and cracks will occasionally appear in the best conducted stables; 

 but where the comfort of the animal is neglected, and every kind of fllth 

 is suffered to accumulate, the disease will be more frequent and more 

 virulent. 



The farmer's horse is not so subject to grease as many others, because 

 he is not usually exposed so much to sudden and extreme changes of 

 temperature, and the heels particularly are not thus exposed. In many 

 instances he lives al.most entirely out of doors, or, if he is stabled, the 

 stables of the little farmer are not always air-tight. The wind finds its 

 way through many a cranny, instead of entering at the door alone, and 

 blowing upon the heels. 



A great deal of error has prevailed, and it has led to much bad practice, 

 in connecting grease with the notion of humours flying about the horse, 

 which must have vent somewhere, and which attack the heeis as the 

 weaker part of the frame. Thence arise the physicking, and the long 

 course of diuretics, which truly weaken the animal, and often do irreparable 

 mischief. Grease is a local complaint; it is produced principally by 

 causes which act locally; and it is most successfully treated by local appli- 

 cations. Physic and diuretics may be useful in abating inflammation ; but 

 the grand object is to abate the inflammatory action which exists in the skin 

 of the heel, and to heal the wounds, and remedy the mischief which it 

 has occasioned. 



The first appearance of grease is usually a dry and scurfy state of the 

 skin of the heel, with redness, heat, and itchiness. The heel should be 

 well washed with soap and water; as much of the scurf should be detached 

 as is easily removable: white ointment, composed of one drachm of sugar 

 of lead, rubbed down with an ounce of lard, will usually supple, and cool, 

 and heal the part. 



When cracks appear, the mode of treatment will depend on their extent 

 and depth. If they are but slight, a lotion, composed of a solution of two 

 drachms of blue vitriol, or four of alum, in a pint of water, will often 

 speedily dry them up and close them. But if the cracks are deep, with an 

 ichorous discharge, and the lameness considerable, it will be necessary to 

 poultice the heel. A poultice of linseed meal will be the most eflfectual, 

 unless the discharge is thin and offensive, when an ounce of finely pow- 

 ■iered charcoal should be mixed with the linseed meal, or a poultice may be 

 made of carrots boiled soft, and mashed. The efficacy of a carrot poultice 

 is seldom sufficiently appreciated in cases like these. 



When the inflammation and pain have evidently subsided, and the cracks 

 discharge good matter, they may be dressed with an ointment composed of 

 one part of resin, and three of lard, melted together, and one part of cala- 

 mine powder added, when these begin to get cool. The healing will be 

 quickened if the cracks are occasionally washed with either the vitriol, or 

 alum solution. A mild diuretic may here be given every third day., hut a 

 mild do.se of physic will form the best medicine that can be afimini.stf red. 



