DISEA3ES OF THE SKIN AND EARS. 227 



legs, of which it is nearly always a precursor. Some horses 

 are extremely subject to swelled ankles. At night the parts 

 show no signs of enlargement, but in the morning they are 

 much swollen, and manifest a considerable degree of heat. 

 These symptoms disappear before night, and every thing 

 seems right again. This condition of the joints may last for 

 months, and has been known to trouble some horses for years. 

 That it is attended with great uneasiness and some real pain 

 is sufficiently evidenced by the efforts which the horse is con- 

 tinually making to rest his feet, his disposition to lie down, 

 and the. relief which he manifests in doing so. In such cases, 

 a diseased condition of the feet is invariably chargeable with 

 these developments. . 



Less frequently the origin of swelled ankles may be traced 

 to the disease of the navicular and lower pastern joints ; and 

 occasionally it seems to be simply the result of constitutional 

 tendencies — a plethoric condition, a superabundance of blood, 

 in connection with hard work and severe straining. But in 

 nine cases out of ten, the evil proceeds from the hoof rot. 

 The fever and heat arising from the diseased condition of the 

 bottoms of the feet, inflame the membrane of the joint under 

 the skin, and it enlarges while the horse is resting; but ex- 

 ercise restores the healthful action of all the parts, and the 

 swelling disappears. 



If the symptoms of sw^elled ankles are not met by appro- 

 priate treatment, swelled legs, cracked heel, or scratches will 

 be almost certain to supervene, sooner or later. - 



TREATMENT. 



The first thing to be done is to remove the cauSe of the 

 swelling by curing the bottoms of the feet. Apply the cor- 

 rosive liniment to them freely every day for four or five days ; 

 then omit for two or three days, and resume the applications 

 as before. Examine the heels, to see if they show any sore- 

 ness, or whether there is any appearance of thrush. It may 

 be well to apply the liniment to the heel also, to be certain 

 to reach any disease which may possibly be lurking there. 



