GREASE.] 



l\ror>E"RX VT:TEKTXArvY PTtACTICE. 



1 MANOE. 



tlic arteries ; namely, iiu-reasiiip; tlie eireulation, 

 and preventing congestion and inlhimination. 

 If the dirt cannot be perfectly rubbed oft" it is 

 better to leave a little of that than have a great 

 deal of grease. 



In order, then, to avoid grease, when horses 

 are brought into the stable, let them have as 

 much air as possible, by opening the windows, so 

 ns to make the increase of circulation gradual. 



Many opinions have been advanced, to show 

 that grease is only local; but other cases 

 show it to be tlioroughly constitutional. This 

 is proved by the fact of many horses having it 

 during a number of years, though the greatest 

 pains may have been taken with them to pre- 

 vent it. " There is no rule without exception ;" 

 and impurities may be lurking in the system. 

 If this is the case, nature takes tliese means to 

 get rid of them, and wisely selects those parts 

 as remote as possible from the vital principle 

 of action ; for, it is well known, from the kind 

 of horse, and the care constantly taken of him, 

 if it appears at all, it must arise from diseased 

 blood, or an hereditary taint from sire to dam. 



In the treatment of grease, the first thing to 

 be done is to bleed the horse according to size 

 and condition, to the extent of from three to 

 six quarts. After this, give him bran mashes 

 only ; regulate him as directed in the article 

 on Conditioning Hunters: at night, give him 

 one of the doses of physic, as recommended at 

 the conclusion of the same article. Take a 

 bucket of warm water, and some soft soap, and 

 well wash out his heels ; free them from all 

 scurf and scabs, dirt, and any other offensive 

 matter that may be lodged in them. This 

 done, get for a poultice four ounces of linseed 

 meal ; pour sufiicient hot water to make it of a 

 proper consistency ; then, just as about to 

 apply the poultice, have ready a pot of diges- 

 tive ointment, composed of the following : — 



Common Turpentine 4 oz. 



Hog's Lard 12 do. 



Melt together over a slow fire. 

 Mix about two ounces of this with the poultice, 

 and fasten it round the horse's legs by means 

 of an old stocking, which should first be drawn 

 on the leg, tied round the hoof, and then 

 turned down to receive the poultice in the 

 hollow of the heel. Poultices do no good ex- 

 cept they are always kept moist. Therefore, 

 at night repeat the washing with the soft soap, 



itc, and also the poultice. Do this until the 

 heels are thoroughly clean and appear hrallhy ; 

 then eoMimencu healing them with tin; fol- 

 lowing : — 



Common Turpentine 2 oz. 



I log's Lard 2 do. 



Alum, finely powdered .5 do. 



Melt the turpentine and lard together; then 

 sprinkle in the alum, and stir till cold. Should 

 this not be found sufficiently strong, add 



Sulphate of Zinc 1 nz. 



These remedies are generally found sufficient 

 to heel the cracks and sores of the heels ; but 

 care must be taken not to stop the discharge 

 too suddenly, and especially if of a constitu- 

 tional nature. 



Some constitutions will not even admit of 

 ointment being applied. If such be the case, 

 prepare 



Sulphate of Zinc 8 oz. 



Boiling Water 2 pints. 



Apply this lotion frequently to the heels. 



If a mild lotion be required, first use alum 

 instead of the zinc, varying the dressing as it 

 may be requisite. 



At the end of five or six days, give another 

 dose of physic, as directed before. The horse 

 should have exercise, if the weather is dry ; 

 but on no account should his legs be suffered 

 to get wet. A bandage round them will be 

 found highly beneficial ; and, by all means, 

 put him in a loose box, or bay of a barn, that 

 he may exercise himself at liberty. "When the 

 process of physicking is concluded, give diu- 

 retic balls, composed of the following ingre 

 dients : — 



Resin, powdered 8 oz. 



Isitre, do. 4 do. 



Juniper Berries 4 do. 



Soft soap, to form the n.ass, and divide into twelve. 



Give one of these balls every second day. 

 By this treatment grease will be got rid of; 

 but constantly bear in miud, to prevent it 

 there is nothing to equal cleanliness. 



MANGE. 



This distemper is so universally known, 

 that a general description of its most pre- 

 dominant features is unnecessary. Let it 

 suffice that a mere superficial view of it 



187 



