GREASE, OR SCRATCHES. 395 



called "the grapes." It is now very rare to meet with grease in 

 any of its forms except in the cart-stable, where the hairy legs of 

 its inmates render them peculiarly prone to its attacks, from the 

 time required to dry them when wet. They are so difficult to clean 

 without water that the carters may well be excused for using it, 

 but if they do they ought carefully to dry the legs afterwards. 

 The treatment when grease is established must be founded upon 

 the same principle as in chapped heels. The skin must be kept 

 supple, and at the same time stimulated to a healthy action. For 

 the former purpose glycerine is most valuable, being far more effi- 

 cacious than any greasy dressing, such as we were obliged to employ 

 before the discovery of this substance. In all the stages of grease, 

 this latter agent may be employed, and as it is readily soluble in 

 water it can be washed off and renewed as often as it may be desired. 

 The discharge is so foul and irritating that it ought to be thoroughly 

 removed at least once in twenty- four hours, and one of the chief 

 advantages of the use of glycerine is that it so greatly assists this 

 cleansing process from its solubility in water. In addition to this 

 emollient plan, some stimulus must be selected, and none answers 

 so well (in all stages but the very earliest) as chloride of zinc. 

 When, therefore, the heels are in that state that it is almost doubt- 

 ful whether the disease is the mere chap or absolute grease, the 

 treatment recommended for the former may be tried, but should 

 this fail, the groom should at once proceed to cut the hair of the 

 skin which is diseased as short as possible. Then let him take 

 some soap and warm water and gently wash the parts with a sponge 

 till the skin is perfectly clean and free from scab or scurf, taking 

 care to remove every particle of soap by well rinsing it. Next dry 

 the leg, and then with a small paint-brush rub gently into the in- 

 flamed parts enough of the following lotion to damp them, but not 

 to wet them thoroughly : — 



Take of Chloride of Zinc 30 grs. 



Water 1 pint. Mix. 



A quarter of an hour afterwards apply a little glycerine over the 

 whole, and keep the parts sufficiently supple with it. If there is 

 much discharge the cleansing may be repeated night and morning, 

 followed by the chloride of zinc, but in most cases once a day will 

 be sufficiently often. If the ulcerated or inflamed skin does not 

 put on a healthy appearance in a few days, the lotion may be in- 

 creased in strength, using forty, fifty, or sixty grains to the pint, 

 as required; but the remedy will be found to be almost a specific, ex- 

 cept for the grapy form, if properly proportioned in strength. When 

 the fungoid growths are very extensive, nothing but their removal, 

 either by the knife or by the actual or potential cautery, will suffice. 

 The least painful plan is to slice them off to a level with the skin 



