GREASE. 293 



and dry, and scurfy. The joint still continuing to be extended and flexed, cracks of 

 the skin begin to appear, and these, if neglected, rapidly extend, and the heel becomes 

 a mass of soreness, ulceration, and fungus. 



The distance of the heel from the centre of circulation, and the position of the hina 

 limbs, render the return of blood slow and difficult. There is also more variation of 

 temperature here than in any other part of the frame. As the horse stands in the 

 closed stable, the heat of this part is too often increased by its being embedded in 

 straw. When the stable door is open, the heels are nearest to it, and receive first, 

 and most powerfully, the cold current of air. When be is taken from his stable to 

 work, the heels are frequently covered with mire and wet, and they are oftenest and 

 most intensely chilled by the long and slow process of evaporation which is taking 

 place from them. No one, then, can wonder at the frequency with which the heels 

 are attacked by inflammation, and the ditSculty there is in subduing it. 



Much error has prevailed, and it has led to considerable bad practice, from the 

 notion of humours flying about the horse, and which, it is said, must have vent some- 

 where, and attack the heels as the weakest part of the frame. Thence arise the 

 physicking, and the long course of diuretics, which truly weaken the animal, and often 

 do irreparable mischief. 



Grease is a local complaint. It is prodviced principally by causes that act locally, 

 and it is most successfully treated by local applications. Diuretics and purgatives 

 may be useful in abating inflammation ; but the grand object is to get rid of the inflam- 

 matory action which exists in the skin of the heel, and to heal the wounds, and 

 remedy the mischief which it has occasioned. 



The first appearance of grease is usually a dry and scurfy state of the skin of the 

 heel, with redness, heat, and itchiness. The heel should be well but gently washed 

 with soap and water, and as much of the scurf detached as is easily removable. An 

 ointment, composed of one part plumb, diacet. and seven of adeps suillae, will usually 

 supple, and cool, and heal the part. 



When cracks appear, the mode of treatment will depend on their extent and depth. 

 If they are but slight, a lotion, composed plumbi sulph. 5ij. et aluminis 3iiij., dis- 

 solved in a pint of water, will often speedily dry them up, and close them. There is 

 sometimes considerable caprice in the application of this lotion, which has induced 

 Professor Morton to have recourse to alumen et terebinthinus vulgaris one part each, 

 and adeps suillas three parts, made into an ointment. 



If the cracks are deep, with an ichorous discharge and considerable lameness, it 

 will be necessary to poultice the heel. A poultice of linseed meal will be generally 

 effective, unless the discharge is thin and offensive, when an ounce of finely-powdered 

 charcoal should be mixed with the linseed meal ; or a poultice of carrots, boiled soft 

 and mashed. The efficacy of a carrot-poultice is seldom sufficiently appreciated in 

 cases like this. 



When the inflammation and pain have evidently subsided, and the sores discharge 

 good matter, the calamine ointment may be applied with advantage ; and the cure 

 will generally be quickened if a very diluted vitriolic or alum solution is applied. 



The best medicine will consist of mild aloetic balls ; gentle diuretics being given 

 towards the close of the treatment. 



After the chaps or cracks have healed, the legs will sometimes continue gorged and 

 swelled. A flannel bandage, evenly applied over the whole of the swelled part, will 

 be very serviceable ; or, should the season admit of it, a run at grass, particularly 

 spring grass, should be allowed. A blister is inadmissible, from the danger of 

 bringing back the inflammation of the skin, and the discharge from it ; but the 

 actual cautery, special care being taken not to penetrate the skin, may occasionally be 

 resorted to. 



In some cases the cracks are not confined to the centre of the heels, but spread over 

 them, and extend on the fetlock, and even up the leg, while the legs are exceedingly 

 swelled, and there is a watery discharge from the cracks, and an apparent oozing 

 through the skin at other places. The legs are exceedingly tender and sometimes 

 hot, and there is an appearance which the farrier thinks very decisive as to the state 

 of the disease, and which the better informed man should not overlook — the heels 

 smoke — the skin is so hot, that the watery fluid partly evaporates as it runs from the 

 cracks or oozes through the skin. 



There will be great danger in suddenly stopping this discharge. Inflammation of 

 35* 



