SWELLED LEGS GENERALLY. 143 



grass to be seized with swelling in the legs. This is occa- 

 sioned by the difference of food, owing to its containing 

 a greater proportion of nutriment, which naturally increases 

 the quantity of the blood, and the want of that exercise 

 which is necessary to carry it off by the skin. It will 

 therefore be quite apparent that exercise and a little open- 

 ing medicine will effect a cure. 



Horses may also have swelled legs from general debility. 

 The proper quantity or quality of food may induce this, 

 or it may proceed from disease that has reduced the strength 

 of the animal system. The limbs, being the most remote 

 from the centre of circulation, first exhibit loss of power ; 

 and this is manifested by swelling, in consequence of the 

 accumulation of fluids in them. 



The cure in this case would be to give such diet and 

 tonic medicines as would tend to invigorate the system, 

 as well as to administer mild diuretics. 



Horses are liable to swellings in the limbs in the spring 

 and fall of the year. This can be accounted for by the 

 principal activity of the circulation being employed in pre- 

 paring a fresh covering of hair at those periods, so that the 

 vital influence in the extremities is somewhat diminished, 

 and the same cause as above explained produces swellings 

 in the legs. Administer diuretics to diminish the quantity 

 of the circulating fluid, and give cordials to strengthen the 

 system. 



Swelling of the legs is also common to horses which are 

 used for hunting and pleasure only. This, it will be seen, 

 arises from irregularity in their habits, one day having a 

 more than sufficient exercise, and probably standing for days 

 or weeks in a stable, and only walked out or trotted for 

 a short distance. In such cases the limbs should be well 



