LEGS OF THE HORSE, THEIR ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. 357 



mostly from the long thick hair on the back of the legs. Draft horses 

 are most subject to it. Itching of the part is an early symptom. When 

 grease is neglected, proud flesh sprouts up through the openings made by 

 the pus, and after a while they become caloused and horny, andthenthey 

 are called grapes. At this stage of the disease the swelling of the leg 

 has become chronic, and can never be reduced. 



What to do. — Give the horse a purgative of aloes, No. 23. Feed on 

 bran mashes a few days. When the purging has stopped give a teaspoon- 

 ful of saltpetre in the feed morning and night for three or four days. 

 Apply hot poultices, with powdered charcoal sprinkled over the top, to the 



SECOND STAGE OF CONFIRMED GREASE GRAPES. 



CRACKS. The stage of Grease in which horny lumps 



are seen, called Grapes, 



Jegs, changing them once a day ; continue them till the active iuflamma 

 tion is nearly all gone, then leave them off and apply lotion 



No. 24. 1 Ounce sugar of lead, 



1 Pint water, 

 Mix. 



Apply three times a day. Wash the parts often enough to keep them 

 clean and poultice them occasionally to keep the inflammation out. 

 While using the lead lotion, give a tablespoonful of epsom salts in the 

 feed once a day. If proud flesh springs up burn it down with burnt alum. 



When the disease is cured, if there is any thickening remaining in the 

 legs, work, hand-rubbing and bandaging will reraove it. 



VII. Mud Fever. 



This is fever in the skin of the legs, from the feet to the knees and 

 hocks. The skin is covered with scabs as if it had been blistered, and 

 when they come off the hair usually comes with it, leaving the legs bare. 



Causes. — Chilling cf the skin by standing or working in cold mud 

 and ice-water. The skin becomes thoroughly chilled, almost like frost- 

 bitten, and when warmed the reaction is so great as to produce much 



