214 LIGHT HORSES: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



this is more likely to occur if the heels have been trimmed. 

 The hind heels are most exposed to cracks or ulcerations. The 

 lameness is more or less considerable, and especially when 

 the horse first begins to move, when the pain may be so great 

 as to cause him to travel for some distance on his toes. The 

 injury is aggravated by sand and grit getting into the sores. 



To prevent cracked heels, these should not be trimmed 

 during cold wet weather, and when the horse returns to the 

 stable they should be always carefully cleaned and dried. 



Treatment. When the skin is merely tender and inflamed, 

 oxide of zinc ointment will be found soothing ; or olive oil, four 

 parts, and Goulard's extract one part, well mixed. If the heels 

 are very painful they should be fomented with warm water 

 and afterwards have a linseed meal and bran poultice applied 

 to them for a day or two ; after which the cracks may be 

 dressed with carbolised oil, or with boric acid powder. When 

 they are healed it is well to smear over the skin with a simple 

 ointment composed of equal parts of beeswax and lard, to 

 protect it from the weather for some time. 



Mud Fever. 



This is something akin to cracked heels, and generally 

 arises from the same or similar causes. It is most frequently 

 seen in hunters, and the skin over the body and limbs, the 

 latter more particularly, is hot, painful, and rough ; the 

 animal moves with soreness, and the skin is tender to the 

 touch, while the irritation may be so great as to excite some 

 degree of fever, and even loss of appetite. The prevention of 

 this disease is refraining from clipping the legs, and not 

 washing them when the horse comes into his stable, but merely 

 wisping off the superficial mud. When the legs are dry, then 

 the dirt and dust may be brushed out. If the legs must be 

 washed, this should be done with cold water and in a shed; 

 then they should be thoroughly dried, hand-rubbed, and 

 trapped in woollen bandages. 



