292 THE HIND LEGS. 



Fomentation, diuretics, or purgatives, or, if there is mucli fever, a moderato bleeding 

 will often relieve the distension almost as suddeni)' as it appeared. 



The kind of swelled legs most frequently occurring and most troublesome is of a 

 different nature, or rather it is most various in its kind and causes, and consequences 

 and mode of treatment. Sometimes the legs are lilled, but there is little lameness or 

 inconvenience. At other times the limbs are strangely gorged, and with a great 

 degree of stifl'ness and pain. Occasionally the horse is apparently well at night, but, 

 on the following morning, one or both of the legs are tremendoush' swollen ; and on 

 its being touched, the horse catches it up suddenly, and nearly falls as he does so. 

 Many horses, in seemingly perfect health, if suffered to remain several days without 

 exercise, will have swelled legs. If the case is neglected, abscesses appear in various 

 parts of the legs ; the heels are attacked by grease, and, if proper measures are not 

 adopted, the horse has an enlarged leg for life. 



The cure, when the case has not been too long neglected, is sufficiently plain. 

 Physic or diuretics, or both, must he had recourse to. Mild cases will generally 

 yield to their influence; but, if the animal has been neglected, the treatment must be 

 decisive. If the horse is in high condition, these should be preceded or accompanied 

 by bleeding; but if there are any symptoms of debility, bleeding would only increase 

 the want of tone in the vessels. 



Horses taken from grass and brought into close stables very speedily have swelled 

 legs, because the difference of food and increase of nutriment rapidly increase the 

 quantity of the circulating fluid, while the want of exercise takes away the means by 

 which it might be got rid of. The remedy here is sufficiently plain. Swelled legs, 

 however, may proceed from general debility. They may be the consequence of 

 starvation, or disease that has considerably weakened the animal ; and these parts. 

 being farthest from the centre of circulation, are the first to show the loss of power 

 by the accumulation of fluid in them. Here the means of cure would be to increase 

 the general strength, with which the extremities would sympathise. JMilA diuretics 

 and tonics would therefore be evidently indicated. 



Horses in the spring and fall are subject to sw'elled legs. The powers of the con- 

 stitution are principally employed in providing a new coat for the animal, and the 

 extremities have not their share of vital influence. Mingled cordials and diuretics are 

 indicated here — the diuretic to lessen the quantity of the circulating fluid, and the 

 cordial to invigorate the frame. 



vSwelled legs are often teasing in horses that are in tolerable or go'bd health : but 

 where the work is somewhat irregular the cure consists in giving more equal exercise, 

 walkintT the horse out daily when the usual work is not required, and using plenty 

 of friction in the form of hand-rubbing. Bandages have a greater and more durable 

 effect, for. nothing tends more to support the capillary vessels, and rouse the action 

 of the absorbents, than moderate pressure. Hay-bands will form a good bandage for 

 the agricultural horse, and their effect will probably be increased by previously 

 dipping them in water. 



GREASE. 



The physic, or the diuretic ball, may occasionally be used, but very sparing]}- ; and 

 only when they are absolutely required. In the hands of the owner of the horse, or 

 of the veterinary surgeon, they may be emploj'ed with benefit ; but in those of the 

 carter or the groom they will do far more harm than good. The frequent and undue 

 stimulus of the urinary organs by the diuretic ball, will be too often followed by 

 speedy and incurable debility. If the swelling bids defiance to exercise and friction 

 and bandage, the aid of the diuretic may be resorted to, but never until these have 

 failed, unless there is an evident tendency to humour or grease. 



Swelled legs, although distinct from grease, is a disease that is apt to degenerate 

 into it. Grease is a specific inflammation of the skin of the heels, sometimes of the 

 fore-feet, but oftener of the hinder ones. It is not a contagious disease, as some have 

 asserted, although when it once appears in a stable it frequently attacks almost every 

 horse in it. Bad stable management is the true cause of it. 



There is a peculiarity about the skin of the heel of the horse. In its healthy staie 

 there is a secretion of greasy matter from it, in order to prevent excoriation and chap- 

 ping, and the skin is soft and pliable. Too often, however, from bad management, 

 die secretion of this greasy matter is stopped, and the skin of the heel becomes red, 



