127 



of the mud alone. Sometimes the inflammatory condition invades the skin 

 of the belly also, and in almost all cases, the integument of the horse being 

 very sensitive and irritable, it is not to be wondered at that a certain amount 

 of febrile disturbance is manifested, and the animal is rendered unfit for 

 work for a time. We have insisted above, that the plan of removing mud 

 by washing with water was to be reprehended, and more especially that the 

 use of hot water was to be condemned ; and we may now repeat the 

 injunction ; for mud fever rarely or never appears when the mud is allowed to 

 dry on the limbs. When the limbs of the animal have been stripped of hair 

 by singeing or clipping, inflammatory conditions of the skin, such as mud 

 fever, cracked heels and grease, are much more likely to follow the practice 

 of washing, and this is especially the case when the parts are not afterwards 

 thoroughly dried. Washing the legs with warm water is never a good 

 practice, but with cold water evil effects rarely follow, if the limbs are dried 

 thoroughly and completely. It is the cold or chill produced by evaporation 

 which stops the action of the skin, and leads to an irritable condition of the 

 part. 



We may conclude our remarks on this subject by adding that, when 

 washing is practised, it should be done with warm water, which should not 

 be hotter than about jd^ or 80" F. The limbs should be dried, and after 

 applying a little almond or other oil, they should be carefully bandaged. 

 Now, with regard to treatment, the disease, being very similar to cracked 

 heels, demands similar remedies. It is well to commence by giving a 

 moderate dose of physic, and resting the animal for three days ; in the 

 meantime, feeding him on bran mashes and warm water, with half an ounce 

 of bicarbonate of potassium in it, twice or three times daily. When it is 

 not possible to rest the animal, a pint of linseed oil may be given instead of 

 the aloes. Locally, we may use cooling lotions or soothing ointments to 

 allay the irritable condition of the integument. A good ointment may be 

 made of four parts of vaseline to. one of glycerine; or the compound 

 petroleum ointment may be employed, when there is much soreness. A 

 good lotion is made of half an ounce of liquor plumbi subacetatis, half an 

 ounce of methylated spirit, and seven ounces of water. 



WARTS. 



Warts are mostly met with in the horse in those parts where the skin is 

 thinnest, and most abundantly supplied with sensation. The lips, nostrils, 

 eyelids, the lower part of the belly, the sheath, and the udder, are more 

 frequently ihe seat of A\arty growths than other parts. Unless warts 

 interfere with the general usefulness of the horse, they cannot be regarded 

 as constituting unsoundness, except when they are so abundant as to prove 

 very unsightly. 



There are various surgical methods by means of which warts may be re- 

 moved. These include ligaturing with thread or silk, burning with the actual 

 cautery, cutting off with the knife, and, finally, the use of caustics. It should be 



