118 THE FAMILY HOKSE. 



the horse, unless they are in such numbers as to interfere with 

 digestion. In fact, some writers hold that their presence is in some 

 unknown way beneficial. The eggs can be removed from the hair 

 by rubbing with a sponge or coarse cloth wrung out of hot water. 



SCRATCHES, OR GREASE. 



Exposure of the feet and legs to melting snow or mud, with 

 neglect to clean them, standing in a filthy or underground stable, 

 and any cause which interferes with the circulation, and leaves the 

 legs in an unclean condition, produce scratches or grease, the 

 symptoms of which are unfortunately too well known to need 

 description. The first steps in any treatment is perfect cleanliness, 

 washing or soaking the feet and legs in soft warm water, then 

 thoroughly drying them. If taken when the inflammation and 

 cracking of the skin first appear, the following application is bene- 

 ficial: Eose water, Bounces; glycerine, Bounces; sugar of lead in solu- 

 tion, 1 ounce. If the disease becomes so far developed that deposits 

 have formed on the heels with fungus growths, constitutional treat- 

 ment is necessary. Dr. Dadd recommends the following, if the 

 horse is in good condition : Powdered aloes, 4 drachms ; powdered 

 gentian, 2 drachms ; ginger, 1 drachm ; mixed in a pint of warm 

 water, and sweetened with molasses. Give as a drench. Make a 

 poultice of pulverized shppery elm bark, mixed to a thick paste with 

 hot water, spread on thick cloth, add a sprinkling of dilute carbolic 

 acid, powdered bayberry bark and powdered charcoal, and when 

 cool apply to the affected parts. This may remain on for one night. 

 Afterwards the following Uniment will be found useful : Vaseline, 

 12 ounces ; barbadoes tar, 6 ounces ; spirits of turpentine, 4 ounces ; 

 oil origanum, 6 ounces ; verdigris, half an ounce. Apply once daily, 

 shaking well before using. Feed no corn, little if any oats, but give 

 green food, carrots, apples, and frequent bran mashes. 



ACUTE LAMINITIS, OR FOUNDER. 



Acute inflammation of the feet is caused by rapid driving on 

 hard, dry roads or heated pavements, drinking freely of hard cold 

 water when the body is heated by exercise, gorging with grain or 

 any rich food, and sometimes by sympathetic affection with inflam- 

 mation of the lungs or other parts of the system. It generally 

 attacks the fore feet, but may affect all. The first symptoms are 

 difficulty in the gait, the affected animal stepping as if trying to 

 walk on its heels. There is e\erj expression of extreme pain, the 



