368 SWELLED LEGS. 



does not seem to labour under any other disease, and sometimes from an appa- 

 rent shifting of disease from other parts, the hind legs suddenly swell to an 

 enormous degree from the hock and almost from the stifle to the fetlock, 

 attended by a greater or less degree of heat, and tenderness of the skin, and 

 sometimes excessive and very peculiar lameness. The pulse likewise becomes 

 quick and hard, and the horse evidently labours under considerable fever. It is 

 acute inflammation of the cellular substance of the legs, and that most sudden 

 in its attack, and most violent in its degree, and therefore attended by the effu- 

 sion of a considerable quantity of fluid into the cellular membrane. It occurs 

 in young horses, and in those which are over-fed and little exercised. Fo- 

 mentation, diuretics, or purgatives, or, if there is much fever, a moderate bleed- 

 ing will often relieve the distension almost as suddenly as it appeared. 



The kind of swelled legs most frequently occurring and most troublesome 

 is of a different nature, or rather it is most various in its kind and causes, and 

 consequences and mode of treatment. Sometimes the legs are filled, but there 

 is little lameness or inconvenience. At other times the limbs are strangely 

 gorged, and with a great degree of stiffness and pain. Occasionally the horse 

 is apparently well at night, but, on the following morning, one or both of the 

 legs are tremendously swollen ; and on its being touched, the horse catches it 

 up suddenly, and nearly falls as he does so. Many horses, in seemingly perfect 

 health, if suffered to remain several days without exercise, will have swelled 

 legs. If the case is neglected, abscesses appear in various parts of the legs ; the 

 heels are attacked by grease, and, if proper measures are not adopted, the horse 

 has an enlarged leg for life. 



The cure, when the case has not been too long neglected, is sufficiently plain. 

 Physic or diuretics, or both, must be had recourse to. Mild cases will generally 

 yield to their influence ; but, if the animal has been neglected, the treatment 

 must be decisive. If the horse is in high condition these should be preceded or 

 accompanied by bleeding ; but if there are any symptoms of debility, bleeding 

 would only increase the want of tone in the vessels. 



Horses taken from grass and brought into close stables very speedily have 

 swelled legs, because the difference of food and increase of nutriment rapidly 

 increase the quantity of the circulating fluid, while the want of exercise takes 

 away the means by which it might be got rid of. The remedy here is suffi- 

 ciently plain. Swelled legs, however, may proceed from general debility. 

 They may be the consequence of starvation, or disease that has considerably 

 weakened the animal ; and these parts, being farthest from the centre of circula- 

 tion, are the first to show the loss of power by the accumulation of fluid in 

 them. Here the means of cure would be to increase the general strength, with 

 which the extremities would sympathise. Mild diuretics and tonics would 

 therefore be evidently indicated. 



Horses in the spring and fall are subject to swelled legs. The powers of the 

 constitution are principally employed in providing a new coat for the animal, 

 and the extremities have not their share of vital influence. Mingled cordials 

 and diuretics are indicated here— the diuretic to lessen the quantity of the cir- 

 culating fluid, and the cordial to invigorate the frame. 



Swelled legs are often teasing in horses that are in tolerable or good health: 

 but where the work is somewhat irregular the cure consists in giving more 

 equable exercise, walking the horse out daily when the usual work is not 

 required, and using plenty of friction in the form of hand-rubbing. Bandages 

 have a greater and more durable effect, for nothing tends more to support the 

 capillary vessels, and rouse the action of the absorbents, than moderate pressure. 

 Hay-bands will form a good bandage for the agricultural horse, and their effect 

 will probably be increased by previously dipping them in water. 



