OEEASE.] 



THE HOESE, AjS^D 



[geease. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



geease; mange; suefeit; mallenders; sallendeks; warts; hide-bound; farcy. 



GREASE. 



EoRMEBLT this disease was a pest to tlie 

 stables of almost every horse-master in the 

 kingdom ; and though simple in itself, the real 

 cause of it lay in obscurity for many years. It 

 is not only disagreeable, but painful in the 

 greatest degree, and not unfrequently lays the 

 foundation of other diseases, such as cracked 

 heels, canker, and their kindred affections. 

 Nothing was more common than to see it in the 

 stage and hackney-coach horses, the farmer's 

 horse, and, indeed, every kind of horse except 

 the racer. Grease is an inflammation and 

 suppuration of the vessels of the skin, gene- 

 rally in the hind legs ; the circulation being 

 weaker thei'e, on account of their being situated 

 at a greater distance from the heart, when, 

 from a want of uniformity of action with the 

 other parts in the circulation, a congestion 

 takes place. 



The cause of this disease is the quickening of 

 the circulation by the horse being brought into 

 a hot stable, most likely with his hind legs wet, 

 the evaporation of which produces cold, to be 

 followed by congestion, as the warm stable 

 increases the action of the heart. 



It does not aflfect all horses alike, nor all 

 parts alike, certain descriptions of animals 

 being more susceptible to the disease tiian 

 others. Thorough-bred horses, such as the 

 racer, are the least subject to it, principally 

 from the fineness of their skin, and the care 

 which is taken of them — proper attention 

 being paid to the temperature of their stables. 

 If a thorough-bred horse were exposed to cold 

 for years, his skin would become thicker and 

 thicker ; and such horses would degenerate. 



There are many circumstances which pre- 

 dispose to grease. The first is, thick skin and 

 white hair, which is a proof of a weak circulation. 

 Another circumstance is the colour and make 

 of the animal — light chestnut, with white legs, 

 narrow chests, and long legs. "Everything," 

 says the editor of The Horse, " that has a ten- 

 18(5 



dency 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 extre- 

 mities, and is unable to return, is a source of 

 irritation by its continued pressure. When 

 high feeding is added to irregular or deficient 

 exercise, the disease is still more likely to be 

 produced. "Want of cleanliness in the stable 

 is a frequent source of grease. When the 

 heels are imbedded in filth, they are weakened 

 by the constant moisture surrounding them — 

 irritated by the acrimony of tlie 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 after- 

 wards, or leaving them to dry as they may, is 

 however, the most common origin of grease." 



This disease often breaks out in October, 

 when the legs of the animal begin to feel the 

 change of season, and are wet and cold. After 

 being brought into stable, the heat causes eva- 

 poration to take place ; and in proportion as 

 liorses become cold, so are they susceptible of 

 heat, if not governed by specific limits. 



Grease may be either local or constitutional. 

 In its local form it is generally severe in pro- 

 portion to the relative temperature the parts 

 have been exposed to. Heat after cold is then 

 an exciting cause, and according to the pre- 

 vious cold, it acts ; the cold being in part gov- 

 erned by moisture, and the length of time 

 occupied in evaporating : if, therefore, the legs 

 of an animal with much hair, hold most water, 

 and produce much cold, so will they be pro- 

 portionably liable to grease. 



Erom these facts, it is natural to conclude, 

 with Mr. Youatt, that the practice of wash- 

 ing the legs, without they are afterwards wiped 

 dry, is bad ; for, by rubbing them quite dry, 

 there is done to the vessels of the heels a 

 sunilar act to that which the heart is doing: to 



