572 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vi. 



gression the patient walks on the heels of the affected feet and 

 removes the weight of the body from the front part where the 

 pain is specially felt. If the attack is a severe one there is much con- 

 stitutional disturbance. This is shown by the high fever, quick hard 

 pulse, hurried breathing, dilated nostrils, and patchy sweats. The 

 severity of the pain may provoke a deep grunt with every movement of 

 the feet. The animal evinces great restlessness, removing the weight 

 frequently from one limb to the other, and, where it is confined to 

 the fore-feet as is usually the case, the body is balanced on the hind 

 feet which are brought well under the trunk. The hoofs are sometimes 

 hot, at others cold, and the arteries of the legs forcibly pulsate or 

 throb. 



Treatment. Place the animal in slings so as to relieve the feet from 

 the weight of the body. Give a bold dose of purgative medicine, and 

 place the feet in warm bran poultices, or pour ice-cold water over 

 them. But omit the purgative after undue retention of the afterbirth. 



If the animal can be induced to lie down so much the better. 

 Should the pain be severe give a dose of opium, and repeat it as often 

 as may be necessary. When the pain and lameness have subsided, and 

 the animal is capable of walking, ten minutes' gentle exercise on soft 

 ground two or three times a day will prove beneficial, and at the same 

 time a blister may be applied over the coronets of the affected feet. 



GREASE. This disease consists in a discharge of stinking matter 

 from the heels. It usually commences with redness and heat in the 

 heel of the foot ; to this cracks succeed ; then considerable swelling, 

 occupying the whole of the pasterns, which are exceedingly tender, 

 and smoke as the horse stands in the stable. At length small flesh}' 

 growths begin to spring from the heels and soon extend to the fetlock. 

 On the first appearance of grease the horse should have a dose of 

 physic. To this should succeed alterative and diuretic balls, either 

 alternated or given together, and, if the horse is in poor condition, a 

 course of tonic medicine may follow. 



When there is simple redness and heat of the heels, the white lead 

 ointment will cool them and render them supple. It is best made by 

 rubbing down one drachm of white lead with seven drachms of lard. 

 When cracks have commenced, they must be poulticed with linseed 

 meal, or mashed turnips or carrots. The inflammation being subdued, 

 a saturated solution of blue vitriol or alum may be applied three or 

 four times a day. The diet in these cases should be light, given in 

 small quantities and often, instead of in full rations. Bran, carrots, 

 mangel, and, in the springtime, green food will be found most suited 

 to the disorder. When grapes appear, a skilful veterinary surgeon 

 alone can decide on the course to be pursued. 



CORN. A corn is a bruise on the sole. It is mostly seen in the 

 angle of the inside heel near to the end of the shoe. To expose it, a 

 layer of horn requires to be cut away with the drawing knife, when a 



