ON GREASE. 
409 
ON GREASE. 
By Mr. J. Bardell. 
[Ilcad at the Veterinary Medical Society.] 
GREASE is a disease of the function and structure of the vas¬ 
cular system of the skin of the heels of the horse, either of the 
liind or fore legs, generally of the hind extremities, but some¬ 
times of both.. 
The first symptom is a redness, heat, and tenderness of these 
parts, attended with a slight serous discharge. The second, or 
more advanced stage, is that of considerable inflammation, with 
jr without ulceration, and also attended with sloughing of small 
portions of the skin termed cracks, which causes considerable 
pain and lameness. In more advanced stages, and in many of 
those in which the constitution becomes affected, the disease ex¬ 
pends a considerable way up the extremities, and ultimately tcr- 
ninates in farcy and glanders. In other cases, the skin of the 
lind extremities below the hocks, after being in a diseased state 
or some time, becomes covered with an insensible horny sub¬ 
stance, termed grapes. Both in this and in the former stage of 
the disease, the fluid secreted from the parts has a peculiar and 
inpleasant smell, and, when copiously discharged, infects all the 
surrounding parts with which it comes in contact, as the skin of 
the coronet, frog, and sole, and terminates in thrush and canker. 
Ihe causes which produce this disease are various. They arc 
:ermed predisposing and exciting. Predisposing causes are those 
which produce local and general debility in the system, from 
ivant of proper food and exercise, or long exposure to wet and 
:old in the autumn and winter months; also washing the legs 
with cold water and leaving them wet; likewise from large and 
epcated doses of purgative and diuretic medicines. Exciting 
;auses are increased temperature, with or without high feeding, 
arge and repeated blisters to the legs, and various other things. 
The treatment I would adopt in the primary stage of the disease, 
would be to apply bran poultices and fomentations; and, in a full 
labit of body, 1 would bleed, physic, and give moderate walking 
exercise, and thus endeavour to abate inflammatory symptoms in 
the part. In a weak and debilitated subject, I would adopt a 
similar treatment, with the exception of bleeding and physicking; 
md in the place thereof, I would give alterative medicines. After 
ibating the inflammatory symptoms, I would apply astringent 
iotions, such as solution of zinc, &c. And if in more advanced 
stages, as when grapes are present, I would adopt the same treat- 
