PHAGADENA. 143 



heels and legs of horses after a severe winter. When on 

 the heels, the ulcers are taken by horsemen to be 

 scratches. Phagadena does not usually assume the form 

 or appearance of a cut or scratch, but is generally a flat, 

 round or oval, and circumscribed sore at first ; the hair 

 of the part is standing on end, with oil drops all over the 

 surface, and in a few days the whole of the skin and hair 

 falls off, or a separation of the edges of the sore will take 

 place, and the skin and flesh of the part will completely 

 fall out, (called core) leaving an unhealthy looking sore, 

 with a wdiite sanious fluid covering the whole of its sur- 

 face. When the slough does not take place, it is gradually 

 eaten away, and in this case leaves on the edges and 

 surface of the sore a thin dirty colored looking skin or 

 membrane. 



Causes. — Bad habit of body, from impure blood, 

 death of the part from exposure of the heels in some 

 mixture of salt and snow. Cold drafts under stable 

 doors. 



Treatment. — The complete removal of all dead matter 

 belonging to the ulcer, and a thorough cleansing of its 

 inner surface. This is important as it will not only be 

 important as a measure of cure, but as a surety against 

 it spreading further up the leg or heels. Then sprinkle 

 the edges and inner surface twice in the day for a day or 

 two with powdered blue stone to destroy the unhealthy 

 surface, and hasten a red surface or the granulatory pro- 

 cess by which the hole will be speedily filled up again. 

 Complete the cure by sprinkling over the sore with 

 powdered loaf sugar twice in the twenty-four hours. 

 Support the strength of the horse by good and generous 

 diet. (See Scratches.) 



