284 DADD’S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
matter, the same is very apt to gravitate toward the heels, (they 
being most remote from the center of circulation,) inducing in- 
flammation of the skin of the heels, distension of the sebaceous 
glands, and a stinking and unhealthy deposit on the surface, and 
a purulent discharge through ulcerated cracks. This constitutes 
grease. 
Cause.—It is contended by Mr. BLAIN and others that grease 
has local weakness fora cause. As fluids press, not in proportion 
to their diameter, but to the height of their column, the venous 
blood must find some difficulty to its ascent. Debility is, there- 
fore, more felt in the distended vessels remote from the influence 
of the heart, under which circumstance the effects productive of 
grease necessarily ensue. Some horses are constantly the sub- 
jects of swelled legs, and, if the heels happen to be accidentally 
abraded, the latter often uperates as the exciting cause of a very 
formidable affection of the heels. Associated with swelled legs is 
a scurtiness of the skin beneath the fetlock. These conditions, 
together with the fact that the animal is of the lymphatic temper- 
ament (gray color), are sure indications that predisposition to 
iwnaladies of the above character are present. Having suchi horses 
under our care, the chief object should be to ward off an attack, by 
dietetic and hygienic measures. ‘Too much washing of the heels, 
without drying them by rubbing, is just about as bad as if the 
filth was allowed to remain. The practice chills the part Ly a pro- 
cess of slow evaporation, and the result is local congestion, ete. 
I now propose to illustrate, for the benefit of the reader, 
the treatment of grease or scratches. I was requested to see 
a gray gelding, the property of the Transfer Company of St. 
Louis, On arrival, I examined the animal, and found him to be 
a large, flabbily-organized creature, having a large amount of 
loose tissue under the skin. I found that there was a bad odor 
arising from some ulcerations and exudations about the heels and 
sides of the same Intermediate of the ulcers were dry, horny 
scabs; the hair about the parts pointed straight out; the heel was 
excessively tender, quite vascular, and blood escaped from its 
vessels, The moment a hand was placed upon the locality, the 
animal would catch up the limb and appear to suffer much pain. 
Treatment.—In the first place, I had the parts well cleansed 
with soap and water; then, after wiping them dry, they were wet. 
ted, three times daily, with a portion of the following solution: 
