392 VETERINARY LECTURES 



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 being 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 wash- 

 ing 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. 666), may be given with great 

 advantage, followed up with some suitable alkaline alterative medi- 

 cine. 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, J ounce ; Fuller's 

 earth, 2 ounces ; add water up to 1 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. 



671. Cracked Heels is a form of eczema, and consists of in- 

 flammation of the skin and sebaceous or oil glands in the hollow of the 

 heels, particularly those of the hind-legs. The cause may be want of 

 condition, through feeding the animal on unseasoned hay or corn ; 

 washing and not drying the legs thoroughly ; clipping the hair out of 

 the hollow of the heels ; and standing in filthy stalls or boxes. 

 Horses with white legs suffer most, possibly from the extra washing 



