DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EAR 223 



do without his own services until he had recovered. Duty, 

 mercy, and self-interest all plead in favor of a similar exemp- 

 tion of man's faithful servant, the horse, when diseased and 

 suffering. 



A singularly obstinate case of cracked heels was cured by 

 the treatment above prescribed, at the village of Petersburg, 

 Boone County, Kentucky, in the summer of 1866. A young 

 stable horse, belonging to Mr. J. Kelson Green, postmaster 

 at that place, had this disease in a very aggravated form. 

 The case had been treated by a professional veterinarian for 

 some time, and finally given up as incurable. The writer 

 then began treating it with the corrosive liniment. A thick 

 scab was formed presently, but the parts were kept well 

 greased, and by this means it was brought off". The appli- 

 cations were then renewed, with like results and treatment. 

 After the fourth alternation in the use q£ the liniment, the 

 last signs of the disease vanished entirely. 



SWELLED LEGS. 



Another form of disease intimately connected with cracked 

 heels, and in many cases only an extension of it, is that which 

 is appropriately known as swelled legs. The hind and some- 

 times the fore-legs of the horse are subject to an enlarge- 

 ment having its origin in the cellular tissue underlying the 

 skin. This tissue is the thin, white membrane that attaches 

 the skin to the muscles, and extends not only around the 

 legs, but is spread over the entire body. 



Mature has filled all the interstices between the fleshy parts 

 and the outer covering of the body with minute sacs, or close 

 cells, filled with a watery secretion. They constitute the cel- 

 lular tissue, and act as little pads for the skin, which every- 

 where rests upon tThiem. All our readers practically familiar 

 with the operation of skinning a beef mug; have noticed the 

 watery secretions oozing out as the knife has divided the 

 little sacs of the cellular tissue. In many parts of the leg 

 devoid of muscle this tissue is the only substance which in- 

 tervenes between the skin and the hard, unyielding surface 



