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filthy-looking outgrowths round the pastern joint, resembling a bunch 

 of red grapes, from which there is a nasty foetid discharge. In such 

 cases, the phenyle wash should be made stronger (say one in forty), 

 and when the parts are dry they should be dressed with powdered 

 alum or blue vitriol. Burning off the warty excrescences with a hot 

 iron, is sometimes necessary. 



665. Mud Fever is a form of erythema or a superficial, patchy, 

 inflammatory eruption of the skin, affecting more particularly the legs 

 of clipped horses ; but it may also affect any other part of the body 

 splashed with mud. It is most common in winter-time, when the 

 weather is very changeable, e.g., hard frosts bemg suddenly followed 

 by thaws and sloppy weather, and vice-versa. It is due to the wet mud 

 having been allowed to dry on the skin, and then washing it off on 

 coming into the stable at night, without drying the legs afterwards. 

 Washing seems to irritate the parts, and it is much better to allow the 

 mud to dry on, and then clean it off gently with a soft wisp of 

 meadow hay. Symptoms. — The first thing to be noticed is the 

 swelling of the legs ; the animal appears stiff and is not inclined to 

 move ; the hair sticks up in patches, and in the course of a few days, 

 comes off very readily when rubbed. The legs usually suffer most, 

 but cases occur in which the whole body is more or less affected. 

 Treatment. — When any constitutional fever is present, put the 

 animal into a good, roomy loose box, and clothe it well ; the legs, 

 however, must not be bandaged, but kept perfectly dry. The aloes 

 and soda ball, as recommended (par. 661 ), may be given with great 

 advantage, followed up with some suitable alkaline alterative medicine. 

 Should the legs be very much swollen and painful, they may be 

 bathed for about thirty minutes with warm water, then immediately 

 dressed with the following lotion : — Sugar of lead, halt an ounce, 

 FuUer's-earth, two ounces, add water up to one quart ; to be applied 

 with a piece of sponge. Well-boiled barley and bran mashes form 

 the best diet. All oils, and greasy dressings, are to be strictly avoided, 

 but if the heels are very much cracked, a little vaseline may be applied. 

 As a preventive, the legs of carriage-horses and hunters should never 

 be clipped. 



