284 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



matter, the same is very apt to gravitate toward the heels, (they 

 being most remote from the center of circulation,) inducing in- 

 flammation of the skin of the heels, distension of the sebaceous 

 glands, and a stinking and unhealthy deposit on the surface, and 

 a purulent discharge through ulcerated cracks. This constitutes 

 grease. 



Cause. — It is contended by Mr. Blain and others that grease 

 has local weakness for a cause. As fluids press, not in proportion 

 to their diameter, but to the height of their column, the venous 

 blood must find some difficulty to its ascent. Debility is, there- 

 fore, more felt in the distended vessels remote from the influence 

 of the heart, under which circumstance the effects productive of 

 grease necessarily ensue. Some horses are constantly the sub- 

 jects of swelled legs, and, if the heels happen to be accidentally 

 abraded, the latter often operates as the exciting cause of a very 

 formidable affection of the heels. Associated with swelled legs is 

 a scurfiness of the skin beneath the fetlock. These conditions, 

 together with the fact that the animal is of the lymphatic temper- 

 ament (gray color), are sure indications that predisposition to 

 maladies of the above character are present. Having such horses 

 under our care, the chief object should be to ward off an attack, by 

 dietetic and hygienic measures. Too much washing of the heels, 

 without drying them by rubbing, is just about as bad as if the 

 filth was allowed to remain. The practice chills the part by a pro- 

 cess of slow evaporation, and the result is local congestion, etc. 



I now propose to illustrate^ for the benefit of the reader, 

 the treatment of grease or scratches. I was requested to see 

 a gray gelding, the property of the Transfer Company of St. 

 Louis. On arrival, I examined the animal, and found him to be 

 a large, flabbily-organized creature, having a large amount of 

 loose tissue under the skin. I found that there was a bad odor 

 arising from some ulcerations and exudations about the heels and 

 sides of the same. Intermediate of the ulcers were dry, horny 

 scabs ; the hair about the parts pointed straight out ; the heel was 

 excessively tender, quite vascular, and blood escaped from its 

 vessels. The moment a hand was placed upon the locality, the 

 animal would catch up the limb and appear to suffer much pain. 



Treatment. — In the first place, I had the parts well cleansed 

 with soap and water; then, after wiping them dry, they were wet" 

 ted. three times daily, with a portion of the fol'owing solution : 



