270 The Farmers Veterinary Adviser. 



The causes are a lymphatic constitution, with a tendency to 

 stocking of the legs ; a weak circulation, diseased heart, 

 liver or kidneys, with swelled legs ; washing the heels witb 

 caustic soap ; leaving them wet and muddy when put in 

 the stall ; currents of cool air striking on the heels • 

 irritant fumes fi-om accumulated dung and urine ; soaking 

 of the heels in putrid pools in the straw-yard ; standing in 

 snow, or in the slush of melting snow ; and besides, any 

 of the constitutional causes of other skin diseases. To 

 these might be added horser-pox, foot-mange, and an erup- 

 tion associated Avith a vegetable parasite, but we must leave 

 these to be considered with specific and parasitic diseases. 



Symptoms. We find all grades of inflammation in the 

 heel : 1st, Simple swelling with dry heat, tenderness and 

 gi-eat lameness from inability to stretch the skin and 

 bring the heel to the ground : 2d, Transverse cracks or 

 chaps more or less extensive : 3d, A pinkish-white fcBtid 

 discharge from the surface with oftentimes some modera- 

 tion of the lameness : 4th, The eruption of pustules of 

 variable size : 5th, The formation of fungous growths 

 (grapes), over the affected surface, of a size from a pea to 

 a cherry, red, angry and covered with a foetid discharge. 

 This last form often invades the frog constituting canker. 

 The same occurs in sheep as the result of long continued 

 irritation to the skin of the coronet, and is the worst form 

 of non-contagious foot-rot. 6th, A sixth form of the affec- 

 tion (scratches) is much more common in our light Ameri- 

 can horse, exposed in the deep mud of spring, and con- 

 sists in minute excoriations, becoming covered with thin 

 scabs which remain tender ' and troublesome for an in- 

 definite length of time. 



Treatment. The prime essential is to avoid the cause, 

 whether exposure to filth, cold, wet, local irritants, low 

 condition, or disorder of some internal organ or function. 

 If the inflammation runs high a cooHng laxative (Glauber 

 salts, aloes,) and mild diuretics (nitre, iodide of potassium,) 

 should be given, unless contra-indicated by low condition . 



