AND HIS DISEASES. 179 



attended to. If the patient is in high condition, a dose of 

 purgative medicine must be given, and the animal restricted 

 to a cooling diet, as carrots, bran, &c., or if in summer, green 

 food is preferable. The following lotion may be daily- 

 applied, which in mild cases will generally suffice : — 



Chloride of zinc, . . 30 grains. • 



Water, ... 1 pint. 



In cases of long standing the hair must be cut off, and the 

 parts softened with linseed- meal poultices ; to which may be 

 added charcoal, yeast, or bleaching powder. After removing 

 the poultices, dust the parts over with oxide of zinc powder, 

 or apply the following ointment every morning, to be washed 

 off at night : — 



Acetate of lead, . . 1 scruple. 



Soft soap, . . .4 drachms. 



Lard, . . .4 drachms. 



As in other skin diseases, small doses of Fowler's solution of 

 arsenic is generally attended with beneficial results. 



SCEATCHES, OE CEACKED HEELS, 



Is a very common occurrence amongst our Canadian horses, 

 especially in the spring and autumn months, and the hind 

 legs are oftener affec.ted than the fore ones. 



Causes. — Like grease, they are very of ten the result of 

 keeping horses standing in damp or filthy stables ; but per- 

 haps the most common cause amongst our agricultural 

 horses is the habit of washing the legs with cold water, and 

 not drying them thoroughly afterwards ; the sebaceous 

 glands in the hollow of the pasterns become inflamed, their 

 secretion is increased, the skin cracks and discharges an 



ichorous matter. 



Symptoms. — They usually cause lameness, more or less 



severe according to the severity of the attack, always most 



