DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 37 



Symptoms. — The legs are swelled, the horse is stifi, the hair comes oS 

 the legs pretty easily, the legs are extremely hot and tender, and if the 

 cause is kept up, there may be a serious affection. The secretions are 

 generally affected. 



Treatment. — Keep the legs as dry as possible Use a mild stimulant, 

 and it is best generally to give a light laxative. A cooling diet is of bene- 

 fit, such as carrots, bran mashes, etc., followed by diureties. If the limb 

 is so much swollen, you may find benefit from bathing nicely and then 

 drying carefully. Do not rub severely. It is generally best to take the 

 shoes off, and after convalescence begins, some gentle exercise will be of 

 benefit. Abscesses may form right up the groin, from the severe irrita- 

 tion. In England it is usually found in hunting horses, from running 

 through the muddy fields. It is superficial, attacking the superficial 

 layer of the sensitive skin. You may use sulphate of iron, sulphate of 

 zinc, acetate of lead, etc. You may use an ointment of the sulphate of 

 zinc, but it is generally more beneficially treated with lotions— carbolic 

 acid, one part to twenty or forty of water, and if one does not succeed, try 

 some other. Treat about as you would a case of cracked hands. 



Grease. — This disease is the result of scratches, and is more 

 liable to attack heavy horses than light ones. It is a diseased state 

 of the skin, inflammation of the true skin, the sebaceous glands 

 and the appendages of the true skin. It is not so common on this conti- 

 nent as in England and Scotland, from being a dry climate. 



Pathology. — First erythematous and then eczematous. It is not con- 

 tagious, nor the result of parasitic influence, but is due to some irritation 

 which acts upon the skin. The papillo becomes enlarged, and there is a 

 fungoid growth. This is called the grapy stage, from its resemblance to 

 a bunch of grapes : and this comes as the last stage of the disease. There 

 are various stages of the disease, and may give rise to pus of pastules. 

 There is an offensive odour in the grapy stage. 



Causes are predisposing and exciting. Coarse -bred horses are more 

 liable to this than well-bred : round legs are more liable than flat ones. 

 The hind limbs are more liable, from the less rapid circulation. Exciting 

 causes, sudden changes in temperature ; washing and not drying the 

 limbs ; standing in filthy stables, which gives another cause for it, appear- 

 ing oftener in the hind legs than the fore ones ; high feeding and want of 

 exercise in young animals, in order to have them early developed ; a 

 blister improperly applied. The heel, just under the fetlock, should not 

 be blistered. It may result from getting th'e foot over the halter strap, 

 etc. Any irritation will produce it. 



Symptoms.— At first a slight swelling of the limbs.* After some time 

 there is a redness of the heels, which can be noticed in a white-skinned 

 animal. The hair stands out prominently at an early stage ; a slight 

 discharge of a kind of oily, greasy matter ; hence its name, " grease." 

 The parts become hot and tender. The animal may be almost lame ; 

 not just lame, but walking rather stiff ; fissures appear in the heels, and 

 sometimes extend right up to the fetlock. 



Treatment.— I may say, when it assumes a certain stage, say the grapy 

 stage, or even not so bad as that, it is difficult to effect a perfect cure, 

 but it can be relieved to a certain extent. If you treat a horse for this, 

 especially if a plethoric animal, give a pretty good purgative. After pre- 

 paring him for it by giving bran mashes, etc , give six, eight or ten 

 drachms of aloes. A light horse will not require so much as a heavy 

 horse. It is a mistake to use powerful remedies without giving a purga- 

 tive. Clipping a horse may produce grease ; but if the hair stands out 

 very much, you may have to clip the hair off ; and to do away with the 



