DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 171 



takes more of an erythematons than of an eczematous nature. In race- 

 horses the process of sweating induces cracked heels ; the sweat, running 

 down the hollow of the heel, dries, and leaves the part impregnated with 

 its salts, which act as irritants to the skin. 



Symptoms. — The first sign of grease is an unnecessary stamping of 

 the hind foot and an occasional rubbing of one leg by the other, caused 

 by an intolerable itching, followed generally by swelling of one or both 

 legs. Should the disease go on, a thick discharge will be found clinging 

 in drops to the hairs at the hollow of the heel, and the hairs will stand 

 out so that the skin will become visible. The heels feel hot and greasy. 

 The horse moves stiffly, and it gives him great pain to lift his leg or to 

 have it lifted. The swelling increases and the animal becomes more and 

 more painfully lame, and for fear of flexing his heels, straddles in his 

 walk in a most awkward manner. The heels become excessively sensitive. 

 If not checked by proper means the disease may run on to the ulcerative 

 stage, and finally excrescences like grapes may form. In this latter 

 stage, there is great tumidity of the leg and thickening of the skin. 

 The leg often becomes twice or thrice its natural size, and the hair falls 

 off. Sometimes in neglected cases maggots are found in the sore. 



Grease is often an intractable disease, but if promptly taken in hand 

 is not always difficult to cure. 



Treatment. — The parts affected, in simple cases of grease, will be 

 best treated by the application of a warm linseed meal poultice for two or 

 three days. To correct the odor, if any is present, add carbolic acid, 3 i. 

 or 3 ij., to the pint of poultice. The poultice should be changed twice 

 a day. The discharge should be cleared away with castile soap and tepid 

 water on each occasion, before the poultice is renewed. The hair must 

 be trimmed off as closely as possible. 



When the bowels are irregular and the discharges foetid, doses of two 

 ounces of hyposulphite of sodium may be given in the drinking water. 



To bring up the general condition of the animal, a change of diet 

 should be given. A bran mash, daily, carrots and easily digested food, 

 no oats. An ounce of saltpetre given in the drinking water daily is use- 

 ful. If the animal is full of habit and not weak, a purgative of aloes 

 will generally be of service. As soon as the physic has produced its ef- 

 fects, Williams recommends the administration of arsenic in the following 

 form : 



