GREASE. 



601 



Symptoms. — There is generally more or less swelling of the 

 legs, which, if not speedily relieved, is followed by a discharge ; the 

 hair falls off, and the skin is reddened and inflamed. The parts are 

 very painful and hot, and in many cases the least pressure of the 

 hand will make the horse twitch up his leg, and continue, to hold it 

 up for some time. In other cases, when. made to move about in his 

 stall, or when tak«n out of his stable. in the morning, he will keep 

 twitching up his legs as if he were affected with stringhalt. Exer- 

 cise appears to relieve the pain, as after being walked for ten or fif- 

 teen minutes, he goes quite free. As the disease advances, the skin 

 cracks, and the discharge increases, becoming inore and more pur- 

 ulent and offensive. (A good illustration of its appearance at this 

 stage is given in Fig. 919.) The swelling increases, not being con- 

 fined to the heels, but involving the 

 front of the fetlock joint, and in some 

 cases extending upward to the hock. 

 The cracked condition of the legs and 

 heels undergoes a change of structure, 

 and fungoid granulations spring up 

 similar in form to a bunch of keys ; 

 this is called the " grapy stage," which 

 may vary considerably in structure, 

 atonetimebeingvery vascular, bleed- 

 ing readily when touched ; in other 

 instances it loses 'its vascularity, and 

 becomes hard and horhy ; from be- 

 tween the crevices of the grapes an 

 ichorous, glairy discharge continr 

 ues. 



There is a small parasite, called sar- 

 coptes hippopodus-, which is sometimes 

 found in chronic cases of grease (Fig. 

 919). Williams says this class of insect may be also common to 

 mange. The disease induced by it is called foot mange. Attention 

 is drawn to a horse with this disease by his rubbing his fore legs, or 

 striking constantly with the hind ones during the night. The seat 

 of the disease, and the ready detection of numerous parasites in 

 clusters where crusts or scabs form about the horse's heels, suffice to 

 enable us to diagnose the malady. 



Treatment. — Without cleanliness, all medicinal remedies are 

 useless. The heels should be washed with soap and water every 



Fig. 918.— A Bad Condition of Grease. 



