DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 145 



grease in which pustules form, yielding a foetid 

 discharge. In some cases the legs swell before the 

 pustules form, and there may be some fever. The 

 hind legs are the ones usually affected. The dis- 

 charge is sometimes very profuse, wetting the back 

 of the hoofs; and if the animal stands for some 

 time the floor beneath the feet will be wet. The 

 discharge of grease is very irritating, and will de- 

 stroy the parts over which it flows. This causes 

 the skin to crack and become sore, and proud flesh 

 may form with a crust on top, which, if peeled off, 

 will bleed freely. In some cases this greasy sub- 

 stance will burrow between the horny and the sen- 

 sitive frog, making it a very difficult case to treat. 

 Professor Hering has found in chronic grease a 

 large number of acari called "sarcoptes hippopo- 

 dus," which cause great itching, and the animal 

 bites and rubs the parts. To prevent this, if the 

 horse has a tendency to swell in the leg, that should 

 be remedied as soon as possible in case it should 

 take on this form. The horse should have regular 

 exercise and not too much food, and if the legs 

 should swell, give a dose of physic, followed by 

 tonics. Some breeds of horses seem to be predis- 

 posed to grease. The heavy, coarse-limbed ani- 

 mals, with hairy legs, are more often affected with 

 this disease than others. Poultice the parts to 

 clean and soften them. Remove all the scabs, and 

 if there are bunches of fungoid granulations they 

 will have to be removed by caustic, or the hot iron. 

 After this is done take one ounce of carbolic acid 

 and six ounces of water, shake it up well and apply 



