170 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



one of Her Majesty's officers assert that every man 

 having a horse under his charge with cracked heels 

 should be sent to the guard-room ; but it is to be hoped 

 that he did not carry out his threat in every case, or 

 some worthy and careful men must have fallen victims 

 unjustly to his capricious and illogical mind. 



This disease is most frequently rather general than 

 local, and must be treated by due observance to the 

 causes — giving tonics if the horse be overworked, and 

 liberal diet, with sulphur, nitre, and sweating, if ple- 

 thora be the cause. 



SWELLED LEGS. 



There are different kinds of swelling, resulting from 

 divers causes. In some cases there appears great 

 swelling, accompanied by a serous discharge, for which 

 the blame is invariably attributed to the kidneys, which 

 are irritated violently by various diuretics until the 

 swelling disappears. Most frequently the horse's legs 

 c fill,' and are remarkably hard and round ; exercise of 

 about two hours' duration usually fines them down, 

 they nevertheless resume their former condition after 

 being in the stable for a few hours, and the swelling, 

 unless the cause be removed, becomes more obstinate 

 with time. 



Overworking and underfeeding, as well as over- 

 physicking, and the too constant use of diuretics, are 

 very prolific causes ; but the two latter are by far the 

 most difficult of removal, since the kidneys have con- 



