82 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



subject to many diseases. The sebaceous glands secrete and 

 throw out a fluid which lubricates and serves to keep the 

 skin in a soft and supple condition. The skin is subject to 

 inflammations of various kinds. We may have erythematous 

 inflammation of the skin, presenting at first well marked 

 congestion, followed by inflammation, and which, if allowed 

 to go on, may result in an eczematous condition, as in grease 

 heel, etc., or nlcers, which may be constitutional or sympa- 

 thetic, depending upon some functional nervous derangement. 

 Eczema may be defined as a vascular effusion of the skin. 

 It means ' to boil out,' and lymph, or liquor sanguinis, is 

 exuded. We have pimples, scales, rashes, tubercles, pus- 

 tules, vesicles, spots, etc., in connection with the skin, all of 

 which will receive due consideration. 



CRACKED HEELS. 



This condition is A'ery commonly known by the name of 

 scratches, and is a well marked erythematous condition 

 during the first stages, but if the irritation is kept up, 

 it soon becomes eczematous. This trouble is a very common 

 one amongst racehorses, affecting both runners and trotters. 

 Irritation is set up. There is at first merely congestion 

 in the superficial layer of the skin. The irritation is kept 

 up until an eczematous condition ensues, and desquamation 

 of the cuticle takes place. The heavy breeds of horses are 

 most liable to this trouble. The disease is of much greater 

 frequency in the hind legs than in the fore legs. 



Causes. — Cracked heels are produced in a variety of ways, 

 as washing the heels and not drying them properly, irregular 

 exercise, standing in filthy, wet stables, etc. A common cause 

 of the disease in racehorses and horses of fast work is, that 

 on sweating freely the perspiration runs down upon the 

 heels, and collecting there, irritates and causes them to 

 crack : or injudicious treatment, as applying a bandage to 



