286 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



lations of the new flesh from rising too luxuriantly, 

 and which otherwise must be kept under by caustic, 

 a practice which puts nature to a great deal of trouble 

 in producing a new surface. During the process 

 of curing any of the above-mentioned diseases of the 

 feet, it is advisable to give some purging medicine, 

 which tends to accelerate the healing of the ulcers by 

 increasing the action of the absorbent vessels. The 

 following ball may be given with safety : — 



Barbadoes Aloes - - - 8 drachms, 

 Castile Soap - - - 2 drachms, 



mixed into a ball with syrup. Previous to taking this 

 ball the horse should be prepared by bran-mashes on 

 the preceding day, and these mashes may be given 

 cold as a more likely means of inducing him to eat 

 them. Indeed the practice of giving mashes too hot 

 is very injudicious, as the horse may happen to scald 

 his mouth, and in that case he generally refuses to 

 touch one ever after. 



It is also ver}^ essential that the horse should be 

 thoroughly cleaned and dressed during his lameness, 

 as it is too often the practice to neglect this salutary 

 operation, from the idea that it is unnecessary because 

 he does not work. 



Grease is a disease of the lower end of the legs, and 

 generally occupying the hollow on the back part of the 

 fetlock-joint. The nature of the discharge is similar 

 to that of the running- thrush and the canker. It 

 generally begins by a swelling of the limb, produced 

 by the want of exercise, or from a want of a proper 

 action in the absorbent vessels. It more generally at- 

 tacks cart-horses, (especially those of a large heavy 

 Oreed, with round fleshy legs), than blood-horses. 



The most prevalent source of this disease is debility, 

 and this may arise from very opposite causes. The 



