278 THE HORSE. 



After the chaps or cracks have healed, the legs will sometimes continue 

 gorged and swelled. A flannel bandage evenly applied over the whole of 

 the swelled part will be very serviceable ; or, should the season admit of 

 it, a run at grass, particularly spring grass, should be allowed. A blister 

 is inadmissible, from the danger of bringing back the inflammation of the 

 skin, and discharge from it ; but the actual cautery, taking especial care 

 not to penetrate the skin, must occasionally be resorted to. 



In some cases the cracks are not confined to the centre of the heels, but 

 spread over them, and extend on the fetlock, and even up the leg, while 

 the legs are exceedingly swelled, and there is a watery discharge from the 

 cracks, and apparently oozing through the skin at other places. The parts 

 are exceedingly tender, and sometimes hot, and there is an appearance which 

 the farrier thinks very decisive as to the state of the disease^ and which 

 the better informed man should not overlook, — the heels smoke ; — the skin 

 is so hot, that the watery fluid partly evaporates as it runs from the cracks, 

 or oozes through the skin. 



There will be great danger in suddenly stopping this discharge. Inflam- 

 mation of a more important part has rapidly succeeded to the injudicious 

 attempt. The local application should be directed to the abatement of the 

 inflammation. The poultices just referred to should be diligently used 

 night and day, and especially the carrot poultice ; and, when the heat and 

 tenderness and stiffness of motion have diminished, astringent lotions 

 may be applied ; either the alum lotion, or a strong decoction of oak bark, 

 changed, or used alternately, but not mixed. The cracks should hkewise 

 be dressed with the ointment above-mentioned ; and the moment the horse 

 can bear it, a flannel bandage should be put on, reaching from the coronet, 

 to three or four inches above the sweUing. 



The medicine should be confined to mild diuretics, mixed with one-third 

 part of cordial mass, or, if the horse be gross, and the inflammation run 

 high, a dose of physic maybe given. From the account we have given, 

 it will easily be distinguished in what cases physic is indicated, and in what 

 states of the constitution or disease we may be content with diuretics. If 

 the horse be strong, and full of flesh and fat, physic should always precede, 

 and sometimes supersede the diuretics ; in cases of much debility, diuretics 

 with aromatics or tonics will be preferable. 



The feeding will likewise vary with the case, but with these rules, which 

 admit of no exception, that green meat should be given, and more especially 

 carrots, when they are not too expensive, and mashes, if the horse will eat 

 them, and never the full allowance of corn. 



Walking exercise should be resorted to as soon as the horse is able to 

 bear it, and this by degrees may be increased to a gentle trot. 



From bad stable management at first, and neglect during the disease, 

 a yet worse kind of grease is occasionally found. The ulceration extends 

 over the skin of the heel and the fetlock, and a fungus springs from the 

 surface of both, highly sensible, bleeding at the slightest touch, and inter- 

 spersed with scabs. By degrees, portions of the fungus begin to be covered 

 with a horny substance, protruding in the form of knobs, and collected 

 together in bunches. These are kno\vn by the name o^ grapes. A stink- 

 ing and very peculiar discharge proceeds from nearly the whole of the un- 

 natural substance. The horse evidently suffers much and is gradually 

 worn down by the disease. The assistance of a veterinary surgeon is here 

 indispensable. 



Some horses are more subject to grease than others, particularly 

 draught horses, both heavy and light, but particularly the former, and if 

 they have no degree of blood in them. It was the experience of this which 



