370 GREASE. 



lotion, which has induced Professor Morton to have recourse to alumen ct terebin- 

 thimis vulgaris one part each, and adeps suillae three parts, made into an ointment. 



If the cracks are deep, with an ichorous discharge and considerable lameness, 

 it will be necessary to poultice the heel. A poultice of linseed meal will be 

 generally effective, unless the discharge is thin and offensive, when an ounce of 

 finely powdered charcoal should be mixed with the linseed meal ; or a poultice 

 of carrots, boiled soft and mashed. The efficacy of a carrot-poultice is seldom 

 sufficiently appreciated in cases like this. 



When the inflammation and pain have evidently subsided, and the sores 

 discharge good matter, the calamine ointment may be applied with advantage ; 

 and the cure will generally be quickened if a very diluted vitriolic or. alum 

 solution is applied. 



The best medicine will consist of mild aloetic balls; gentle diuretics being 

 given towards the close of the treatment. 



After the chaps or cracks have healed, the legs will sometimes continue 

 gorged and swelled. A flannel bandage, evenly applied over the whole of the 

 Bwelled part, will be very serviceable ; or, should the season admit of it, a run 

 at grass, particularly spring grass, should be allowed. A blister is inadmissible, 

 from the danger of bringing back the inflammation of the skin, and the discharge 

 from it ; but the actual cautery, special care being taken not to penetrate the 

 skin, may occasionally be resorted to. 



In some cases the cracks are not confined to the centre of the heels, but 

 spread over them, and extend on the fetlock, and even up the leg, while the 

 legs are exceedingly swelled, and there is a watery discharge from the cracks, 

 and an apparent oozing through the skin at other places. The legs are exceed- 

 ingly tender and sometimes hot, and there is an appearance which the farrier 

 thinks very decisive as to the state of the disease, and which the better 

 informed man should not overlook — the heels smoke — the skin is so hot, that 

 the watery fluid partly evaporates as it runs from the cracks or oozes through 

 the skin. 



There will be great danger in suddenly stopping this discharge. Inflamma- 

 tion of a more important part has rapidly succeeded to the injudicious attempt. 

 The local application should be directed to the abatement of the inflammation. 

 The poultices just referred to should be diligently used night and day, and 

 especially the carrot-poultice ; and when the heat, and tenderness, and stiffness 

 of motion have diminished, astringent lotions may be applied — either the alum 

 lotion, or a strong decoction of oak-bark, changed, or used alternately, but not 

 mixed. The cracks should likewise be dressed with the ointment above-men- 

 tioned ; and, the moment the horse can bear it, a flannel bandage should be 

 put on, reaching from the coronet to three or four inches above the swelling. 



The medicine should be confined to mild diuretics, mixed with one-third 

 part of cordial mash; or, if the horse is gross, and the inflammation runs high, a 

 dose of physic may be given. * If the horse is strong, and full of flesh, physic 

 should always precede and sometimes supersede the diuretics. In cases of much 

 debility, diuretics, with aromatics or tonics, will be preferable. 



The feeding should likewise vary with the case, but with these rules, which 

 admit of no exception, that green meat should be given, and more especially 

 carrots, when they are not too expensive, and mashes, if the horse will eat them, 

 and never the full allowance of corn. 



Walking exercise should be resorted to as soon as the horse is able to bear it, 

 and this by degrees may be increased to a gentle trot. 



From bad stable management at first, and neglect during the disease, a yet 

 worse kind of grease occasionally appears. The ulceration extends over the 

 skin of the heel and the fetlock, and a fungus springs from the surface of both, 



