29-t THE HIND LEGS. 



a more important part has rapidly succeeded to the injudicious attempt. The local 

 application should be directed to the abatement of the inflammation. The poultices 

 just referred to should be diligenlly used night and day, and especially the carrot- 

 poultice; and when the heat, and tenderness, and stiflness of motion have diminished, 

 astringent lotions may be applied — either the alum lotion, or a strong decoction of oak- 

 bark, changed, or used alternately, but not mixed. 1'he cracks should likewise be 

 dressed with tlie ointment above-mentioned ; and, the moment the horse can bear it, a 

 flannel bandage should be put on, reaching from the coronet to three or four inches 

 above the swelling. 



The medicine should be confined to mild diuretics, mixed with one-third part of 

 cordial mash ; or, if the horse is gross, and the inflammation runs high, a dose of 

 physic may be given. If the horse is strong, and full of flesii, physic should always 

 precede and sometimes supersede the diuretics. In cases of much debility, diuretics, 

 with aromatics or tonics, will be preferable. 



The feeding should likewise vary with the case, but with these rules, which admit 

 of no exception, that green meat should be given, and more especially carrots, when 

 they are not too expensive, and mashes, if the horse will eat them, and never the full 

 allowance of corn. 



Walking exercise should be resorted to as soon as the horse is able to bear it, and 

 this b}' degrees may be increased to a gentle trot. 



From bad stable management at first, and neglect during the disease, a yet worse 

 kind of grease occasionally a]>pears. The ulceration extends over the skin of the heel 

 and the fetlock, and a fungus springs from the surface of both, highly sensible, bleed- 

 ing at the slightest touch, and interspersed with scabs. By degTces, portions of the 

 fungus begin to be covered with a horny substance protruding in the form of knobs, 

 and collected together in hunches. These are known by tlie name of grapes. A 

 fcKtid and very peculiar exudation proceeds from nearly the whole of the unnatural 

 substance. The horse evidently suffers much, and is gradually worn down by the 

 discharge. The assistance of a veterinary surgeon is here indispensable. 



Some horses are more subject to grease than others, particularly draught-horses, 

 both heavy and light, but particularly the former, and if they iiave no degree of blood 

 in them. It was the experience of this which partly contributed to the gradual 

 change of coach and other draught-horses to those of a lighter breed. In the great 

 majority of cases, grease arises from mismanagement and neglect. 



Everything that has a tendency to excite inflammation in the skin of the heel is a 

 cause of grease. Therefore want of exercise is a frequent source of this disease. 

 The fluid which accumulates about the extremities and is unable to return, is a source 

 of irritation by its continual pressure. When high feeding is added to irregular or 

 deficient exercise, the disease is evidently still more likely to be produced. Want 

 of cleanliness in the stable is a fruitful source of grease. ^^ hen the heels are 

 embedded in filth, they are weakened by the constant moisture surrounding them — 

 irritated by the acrimony of the dung and the urine, and little prepared to endure the 

 cold evaporation to which they are exposed when the horse is taken out of the stable. 

 The absurd practice of washing the feet and legs of horses when they come from 

 their work, and either carelessly sponging them down afterwards, or leaving them to 

 dry as they may, is, however, the most common origin of grease. 



When the horse is warmed by his work, and the heels share in the warmth, the 

 momentary cold of washing may not be injurious, if the animal is immediately rubbed 

 dry; yet even tlils would be better avoided : but to wash out the heels, and then 

 leave them ])artially dry or ])erfect!y wet, and sutfering from the extreme cold that is 

 produced b}- evaporation from a moist and wei surface, is the most absurd, danger- 

 ous, and injurious practice tliat can b(^ iniatrined. It is worse when the post-horse or 

 the plough-liorse is plungcnl up to his belly in the river or pond, immediately after 

 his work. The owner is little aware how many cases of inflammation of the hmgs, 

 and bowels, and feet, and lioola follow. After ihev have been suflVred to stand for 

 twenty minutes in the stable, during which time the horse-keeper or the carter may 

 be employed in taking care of the harness, or carriage, or beginning to dress the 

 horse, the greater part of the dirt which had collected about tlie heels may be got rid 

 of with a dry brush ; and the rest will disaj.pear a quarter of an liour afterwards under 

 the operation of a second brusliincr . The trouble will not be great, and the heels 

 will not be chilled and subject to inflammaticn. 



