GREASE, CROWN-SCAB, &C. 193 



CHAP. XLI. 



GREASE, CROWN-SCAB, AND RAT-TAIL. 



The grease is a disorder well known to most 

 persons who keep horses. It makes its appearance, 

 particularly, at the latter end of the year, and during 

 the winter season. This disease may proceed from 

 different causes ; as, debility in the system, a gross 

 habit of body, want of exercise, a relaxation, or 

 inflammation of the vessels of these parts, and a 

 consequent congestion of blood in them. 



The grease is frequently owing to the negligence 

 of the groom, in not keeping the horse's limbs clean 

 and dry, and giving them that hand-rubbing which 

 they require several times in the course of the day, 

 to promote perspiration, and the circulation of the 

 blood in those parts ; a due regard to which would 

 prove a great preventive of this complaint. 



The symptoms indicating the grease are, swell- 

 ing of the limbs, and a sharp eruption, which 

 discharges a fetid matter, somewhat like melted 

 glue. When the horse's heels are first observed 

 to swell, while he stands in the stable, and to go 



o 



