66 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Washing 

 the legs 

 and belly. 



Cracked 

 heels. 



Mud fever. 



Washing 

 white legs, 



and the warmth of the skin kept up, or a chill may result. The use of 

 soap removes a great proportion of the usual greasiness of the coat, and 

 consequently some of nature's protection from cold, and until this is 

 restored an unusual liability to chills is present, which can only be 

 gua/ded against by thorough drying and protection from draughts. From 

 the same cause, i.e.^ removal of the natural grease, the coat of the washed 

 horse is dull and wants the glossiness which it would otherwise carry. 

 Washing of the body, then, should be prohibited as a rule, except for the 

 special purposes mentioned, and should it be necessary at any time to 

 break the rule, the greatest care should be taken to dry the skin 

 thoroughly, clothe the animal warmly for the time ; and keep it out of 

 draughts. 



Washing the legs and belly on return from work in order to get rid of 

 mud is frequently followed by stiffness and cracking of the surface 

 (chapping). This is more likely to happen if warm water is used or when 

 the weather is cold, and especially when there is a keen wind ; it is most 

 common in the heels, legs and bellies of horses which are washed on 

 return from work. When confined to the hollow of the heel, the condition 

 is called "cracked " or "greasy heel," the latter term originating from 

 the fatty nature of the discharge from the oil glands of the skin which 

 collects round the injury. On the legs and belly it is commonly 

 attributed to the irritation of mud, and is frequently called "mud 

 fever." 



The condition is a serious one and may incapacitate horses for long 

 periods, but it may be practically banished from the stable by prohibiting 

 the routine washing of legs and feet. Mud should be left till dry, and 

 then brushed off. 



It has been stated that animals with white legs are more frequent 

 sufferers from cracked heels than others, and this is no doubt the case ; 

 but it is not on account of weakness or peculiarity of the white skin, 

 but owing to the fact that it is more frequently washed. 



There must, however, be occasions on which it becomes necessary for 

 the sake of appearance to wash white legs, and if they are thoroughly 

 dried no harm results as a rule. The drying must, however, be quite 

 thorough, and the circulation of the part well maintained by brisk 

 rubbing. It is a good plan to rub a little bran over the washed surface 

 to thoroughly absorb all moisture, or where peat moss is in use, a handful 

 of clean moss dust, which does not stain the skin will answer the same 

 purpose. In no case should any washing be permitted without special 

 sanction on each occasion. Washing the hoofs both round the wall and 

 on the sole is occasionally required as a matter of cleanliness after the 



