SWELLED LEGS. *247 



and upon the inside of the thigh exceedingly tender. 

 The horse cannot bear to have it touched ; he catches 

 up his leg suddenly ; the limb moves as if the lower 

 part of it had no joint; and in the convulsive effort 

 to snatch it out of reach, the animal not unfrequently 

 loses his balance, and falls on the examiner. 



This complaint, which is known by the name of 

 ''weed" in many parts of the country, is evidently a 

 sudden and a very intense inflammation of the cellular 

 tissue. A considerable degree of general fever often 

 speedily follows ; the pulse quickens ; the mouth is 

 hot ; and the horse is entirely off his feed. Horses of 

 the coarser breeds are peculiarly subject to this ; espe- 

 cially if, after being regularly worked, they are suf- 

 fered to stand in the stable, unattended to and un- 

 thought of during the whole of Sunday. 



This apparently formidable species of swelled leg 

 readily yields to proper medical treatment. The leg 

 should be frequently fomented with warm water ; 

 tonics at the same time should be given, or the tonic 

 and diuretic medicine may here be of service. How- 

 ever, this affection is a warning that farcy is approach- 

 ing, and the work should be lightened while the food 

 provided is also improved. Too much labour upon 

 green meat only will produce "weed" The swelling, 

 however, having subsided, and the tenderness having 

 gone off, the legs should be well rubbed, and then 

 lightly bandaged ; gentle exercise should be used, for 

 the disease is apt to return. 



If an old horse, or a young one that has been over- 

 worked, is suffered to stand a day or two in the stable, 

 his legs often fill, but without pain or heat. The legs 

 M 4 



