DISEASES. 255 



common oil, is an excellent application when smeared around 

 the pasterns. These parts should not be deprived of the hair, 

 nor yet washed in cold water, but the mud should be removed 

 with a wisp of straw when the horse returns to his stable. 



Mud Fever. 



This is the same condition of the skin of the other parts of 

 the limb as cracked heels, and is due to the same cause, or 

 causes, the inflammation extending to the under parts of the 

 belly. The skin is hot and painful (it may be even swollen), 

 and the hair on it is erect, while, when the hand is passed 

 over it, a roughness or eruption can be felt ; if not checked the 

 hair will fall off, sores appear on the skin, and much stiffness 

 or lameness, with a certain amount of fever, will be present. 



Treatment. This consists in applying to the inflamed skin 

 Goulard's extract (one part) and olive-oil or glycerine (four 

 parts), or veterinary vaseline. If fever is present, give sloppy 

 diet and a mild dose of physic. To prevent mud fever, the 

 body and legs should not be washed when the horse returns to 

 the stable, the dirt being removed by scraping and rubbing with 

 a straw wisp. If there are draughts in the stable or, indeed, 

 under any circumstances it is well to apply woollen bandages 

 as high as possible on the limbs. When quite dry, the re- 

 mainder of the dirt may be removed by the brush, or by a 

 damp sponge and a soft cloth. If the legs must be washed, 

 then this should be done in the stable, and the skin quickly 

 and thoroughly dried and hand-rubbed, some vaseline being 

 afterwards applied, and then flannel bandages. As a preven- 

 tive, the legs should not be clipped. 



Warts. 



These grow on different parts of the skin, and are some- 

 times very troublesome when they are situated where the 



