248 SWELLED LEGS. 



of some horses regularly swell every night. This is 

 connected with debility, either general or of the part. 

 The case must be considered very attentively before 

 any measures are adopted. The horse may be too 

 highly kept ; then mild diuretics ; regular exercise ; 

 tonics ; hand-rubbing and bandages will be the pro- 

 per means to be adopted; decreasing a little the 

 quantity of food and giving oats with a few ground 

 beans will afford relief. The use of the bandage is 

 an excellent thing in these cases ; and has often gra- 

 dually strengthened the vessels of the part, rendering 

 the leg eventually fine. 



Frequently an enlargement of the leg is connected 

 with general debility. The horse is recovering from 

 serious illness ; or he has been half-starved ; or he is 

 generally weak and the weaker parts, where the 

 blood circulates most feebly, naturally yield. A daily 

 malt mash should be given ; a fair allowance of corn, 

 with a few old beans; carrots, if they can be pro- 

 cured; gentle and regular exercise; small doses of 

 cantharides, varying from three to five or six grains, 

 and a few tonic diuretic balls (Recipe, No. 35, p. 126), 

 while the work is decreased. Every thing should be 

 done to increase the strength of the system generally; 

 and the vessels of the extremities may ultimately re- 

 gain their proper tone. 



This treatment will be particularly proper if the 

 legs swell at the spring and fall of the year. The 

 horse is then shedding his coat; a process which is 

 always attended with some debility. Tonic balls will 

 here be exceedingly useful. 



In every case, however, of swelled legs, a great deal 



