294 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



under the same circumstances, to refer its production to infection 

 or contagion." 



The reader will perceive from these remarks that proper ven- 

 tilation of the stables, good grooming, (which includes care and 

 attention to the general management of the animal,) and the 

 knowledge obtained of the laws of animal life and the conditions 

 requisite for its perpetuity, derived through the medium of the 

 veterinary art, are the means of prevention best calculated to 

 remedy the evil. 



Symptoms of Grease. — In the early stage of grease, the 

 primary symptoms attending common inflammatory affections, — 

 viz., heat, tenderness, and tumefaction — are generally present. 

 On applying the hand to the heel and fetlock, the parts will 

 be found hot, and, under pressure, the animal will evince signs 

 of pain ; the parts have a greasy feel, and the morbid matter, 

 which oozes through the tegumentary tissues, has a fetid, un- 

 pleasant smell. As the disease progresses, the parts become 

 swollen, — infiltrated with serum of a morbid character, — thus 

 increasing the inflammatory symptoms, and causing the animal 

 much pain, which he usually evinces by occasionally catching up 

 the foot, as it is termed. The offensive matter on the surface of 

 the heels now becomes more profuse; the hairs stand out hori- 

 zontally, and sometimes, even a long time after the animal is 

 considered cured, the hair still continues to wear an unnatural 

 aspect. This is owing, probably, to the fact that the disease has 

 extended to the hair bulbs. When the disease attacks both hind 

 legs, the pain is sometimes intense, especially if the horse be 

 plethoric, or his system is charged with morbid humors. In the 

 latter case, the greasy discharge is very profuse ; for the pent-up 

 waste matters have now found an outlet, which, according to 

 principles purely hydrostatic, admit of a free discharge of the 

 fluids of the body. 



The symptoms, however, thus far detailed, apply to grease in 

 what may be considered a comparatively mild form, as we often 

 observe it in horses used for general purposes in this city. In 

 such cases, exercise and light work rather tend to lessen the 

 6 welling and pain than otherwise ; and the patient, after having 

 travelled a short distance, under a light load, seems comparatively 



