THE HORSE—THE SKIN, 125 
changes from cold to heat; deranged action of the skin; chapped heels. 
Scratches are closely allied to grease, though caused by exposure to mud, 
wet, and neglect in cleaning the legs. 
Symptoms.—in the Jirst stage, sometimes fever-symptoms; the legs. 
especially the hind ones, swollen about the hock; red and inflamed skin at 
the heel; pain from handling the leg, causing the horse to snatch it up and 
thrust it out awkwardly; straddling gait, with hind legs apart. In the 
second stage, sloughy and unhealthy cracks or ulcers in the skin, extending 
around the leg, give out an oily-looking discharge, which wets the skin 
and may drip from the hair; the cracks are found on the back part of and 
EXvuDATION IN THE First Stace or GREASE. CRACKS IN THE SECOND STAGE OF GREASE. 
abuve the fetlock, and their discharge increases the inflammation and 
ulceration of the limb. In the ¢Ard stage, irregular fungous growth, from 
the size of a pea to that of a walnut, at the bottoms of the cracks, full of 
blood-vessels which bleed upon handling; the discharge becomes very offen- 
sive and pus-like, destroying most of the hair and leaving the balance 
bristling; the excrescences are red (called “grapes ” from their appearance), 
and finally become cartilaginous. ‘To avoid confusing Grease with Farcy, 
consult the table of symptoms given in the section devoted to the latter. 
Scratches consist in little scaly sores, which become covered with thin 
scabs, and are likely to be tender and annoying until dry weather has come ° 
on in spring, unless treated promptly. 
TREATMENT.—For Grease, put on a turnip or linseed poultice. 
Give exercise morning and evening, bandaging the legs after removing the 
poultice. Smear glycerine over the parts three times daily. Give bran- 
mashes for food. Give ten drops of Fowler’s Solution of arsenic three 
times a day, and it will often effect a cure, if promptly given. In the second 
stage, with ulceration, cut off the long hair from the affected part and 
foment twice a day; dry the leg, and lightly smear over the cracks a lini- 
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