DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 445 



as those of simple inflammation of the heel, so that the reader may 

 consult the preceding article, and though a specific fungus and bacteria 

 of diiierent kinds are present, they tend mainly to aggravation of the 

 disease, and are not proved to he essential factors in causation. 



Symj)toms. — The s^'mptoms vary according to whether the disease 

 comes on suddenly or m.ore tardily. In the first case there is a sudden 

 swelling of the skin in the heel, with heat, tenderness, itching, and 

 stiffness, which is lessened during exercise. In the slower forms there 

 is only seen a slight svv^elling after rest, and. with little heat or inflam- 

 mation for a week or more. Even at this earlj- stage a slight serous 

 oozing may be detected. As the swelling increases, extending up 

 toward the hock or knees, the hairs stand erect, and are bedewed by 

 moisture no longer clear and odorless, but grayish, milky, and fetid. 

 The fetor of the discharge draws attention to the part whenever one 

 enters the stable, and the swollen pastern and wet, matted hairs on 

 the heel draw attention to the precise seat of the malady. If actively 

 treated, the disease may not advance further, but if neglected the 

 tense, tender skin cracks open, leaving open sores from which vascular 

 bleeding growths grow up, constituting the "grapes." The hair is 

 shed, and the heel may appear but as one mass of rounded, red, angry 

 excrescences which bleed on handling and are covered with the now 

 repulsively fetid decomposing discharge. During this time there is 

 little or no fever, the animal feeds v>^ell, and but for its local troul^le it 

 might continue at work. When the malad}^ extends to the frog, there 

 is a fetid discharge from its cleft or from the depressions at its sides, 

 and this gradualh^ extends to its whole surface and upon the adjacent 

 parts of the sole. The horn meanwhile becomes soft, whitish, and 

 flesh}' in aspect, its constituent tubes being greatly enlarged and losing 

 their natural cohesion; it grows rapidlj^ above the level of the sur- 

 rounding horn, and when pared is found to be penetrated to an unusual 

 depth b}' the secreting papilla, and that at intervals these have bulged 

 out into a vascular fungous mass comparable to the "grapes." 



Treatment. — In treatment hygienic measures occupy a front rank, 

 but are in themselves insufficient to establish a cure. All local and 

 general conditions which favor the production and persistence of the 

 disease must be guarded against. Above all, cleanliness and purity 

 of the stable and air must be secured; also nourishing diet, regular exer- 

 cise, and the avoidance of local irritants — septic, muddy, chilling, etc. 

 At the outset benzoated oxide of zinc ointment may be used with 

 advantage. A still better dressing is made with 1 ounce vaseline, 2 

 drams oxide of zinc, and 20 drops iodized phenol. If the surface is 

 much swollen and tender,' a flaxseed poultice may be applied over the 

 surface of which has been poured some of the following lotion: Sugar 

 of lead, one-half ounce; carbolic acid, 1 dram; water, 1 quart. All 

 the astringents of the pharmacopeia have been employed with more 



