124 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



exercise, and allowing them to dry of their own accord ; 

 the consequent reaction after the application of cold 

 being very great, produces inflammation. Another 

 cause is taking a horse into a warm stable in winter, 

 when the legs have been chilled by excessive cold 

 from standing. 



Grease is not contagious, yet it has been known to 

 affect all the horses of a stable at the sam.e time, after 

 one has been seized with the complaint. This can 

 only be accounted for by bad stable management. 

 The skin of the heel is considerably different in its 

 texture from that of other parts of the legs. The 

 fetlock is subjected to a greater degree of motion and 

 friction than any other joint, and it is provided with a 

 soft unctuous matter to keep it from chapping or ex- 

 coriation, which can be easily felt to be greasy to the 

 touch. When inflammation ensues, this greasy ex- 

 udation stops, and the heel exhibits a red, dry, and 

 mealy appearance ; and in consequence of the con- 

 tinual motion of this joint, cracks soon make their 

 appearance ; these increasing considerably, present an 

 entire mass of sores, which ulcerate very much and 

 assume a fungus-like appearance. 



It is easy to account for the tendency of the skin of 

 the heels to violent inflammatory attacks, which arises 

 from its being so remote from the centre of the cir- 

 culation, and also its constant exposure to extrem.e 

 variations of temperature. In the first place, when 

 standing in the stable the feet are subjected to a great 

 degree of heat, from being at all times surrounded 

 with straw, and then vv^hen the door is opened his 

 heels, in many instances, being close to the door, are 

 exposed to any cold draught w^hlch may rush in ; and 

 then he may be taken from the stable to the open air 

 and v/alked through soft and cold mud after being 



