98 THE MULE. 



powder, some lard or tallow, in equal parts, and apply 

 in the same manner. If the animal be poor, and his 

 system need toning up, give him plenty of nourishing 

 food, with bran mash mixed plentifully with the grain. 

 Add a teaspoonful of salt two or three times a day, as 

 it will aid in keeping the bowels open. If the stable 

 bottoms, or floors, or yards are filthy, see that they are 

 properly cleaned, as filthiness is one of the causes of 

 tliis disease. The same treatment will apply to 

 scratches, as they are the same disease in a difierent 

 form. 



To avoid scratches and grease-heel during the winter, 

 or indeed at any other season, the hair on the mule's 

 heels should never be cut. Kor should the mud, in 

 winter season, be washed off, but allowed to dry on the 

 animal's legs, and tlien rubbed off with hay or straw. 

 This washing, and cutting the hair off the legs, leave 

 them without any protection, and is, in many cases, the 

 cause of grease-heel and scratches. 



SHOES, SHOEING, AND THE FOOT. 



The foot, its diseases, and how to shoe it properly, 

 is a subject much discussed among horsemen. Nearly 

 every farrier and blacksmith has a way of his own for 

 curing diseased feet, and shoeing. ISTo matter how 

 absurd it may be, he will insist that it has merits 

 superior to all others, and it would be next to impossible 

 to convince him of his error. Skillful veterinarians 

 now understand perfectly all the diseases peculiar to 

 the foot, and the means of effecting a cure. They 



