Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-08-01
Farmers Depar tment.
"SCRATCHES" IN HORSES.

This dcsease, called also "grease" in
England and in some parts of this country,
often attacks the heels and legs of neg.
leeted horses, and though easily prevented,
is difficulty to cure, il Of long standing. -
1t commences with Inflammation of the oil
glands of the skin about the hind feet
These vessels, named SeJaceoRS glands
supply fluid to soften the skin and pre-
vent its cracking. These glands are cs.
pecially needed and very active about the
hind feet of the horse, where, by frequent
exercise Of the parts the skin is subject to
almost constant alternate wrinkling and
expansion. The toughest leather would
soon yic d under such treatment, unless
kept well softened by oiling. The til
glands may become iEaamed by sudden
cold, as when horse after exercise over
wei roads i, allowed to stand in the sta
be without cleaning and drying the hair
about the feet, The animal being warm, l.,
moisture rapidly vaporates and carries
with it the heat from the neighboripg
ports; congestion ensues, and inflammation
commences. 1t may be slight at first, but
by neglect it will be likely to extend and
affect the surrounding surface and also
the deeper seated structures, resulting in
disorder disgusting in its appearance,
and painful to the horse. Or it NAV be
caused by standing on filthy stable floor
in wet straw and excrements, the moisture
from which not only produces cold, but
from Its nature irriates the skin; thereby
including the diseaee.
AS it progresses, the hair drops of, the
heels swell, the skinassumes glazed ap-
pearance, is covered with pustules, and
cmits an unctuous discharge which soon
becomes very offensive. Unless properly
treated, the leg half way to the hook is
cruated over with thick, horny soaps, di-
vlded by deep cracks, when the affection
is scarcely durable. Prevention is found
in clean stables, and in thorough drying
and rubbing of the legs after the horse has
been used. Close clipping of the hair
which ordinarily grows long about the
legs, deprives these parts OF their natural
protection, rendering them more liable to
hesscratshes, and is therefore objection
able.
If the disease unfortunately appears,
Herbert recommends to clip off all the
hair from the affected parts, and thorough
!. ~ cleanse them with warm water and Cas-
tile soap. Then apply flannel bandagc
d evenly over the limb, and frequently mois-
ten it with warm water, allowing it to dry
on the part. To soften the skin, apply
an ointment OF one drachm of sugar of lead
in an ounce of lard. If there are cracks,
wash them with solution of four ounces
of alum in pint of water. Feed the
horse on bran mashes, carrots, and green
feed, and if there be much inflammation
after day or two, administer a ball Of
four or five drachms of aloes.
If the disease has reached the second
stage, three doses of physic at intervals of
two days will be needed. The best ap,
plication to the heels will be poultice
made of boiled and mashed carrots, put on
tolerably hot. 1t can be conveniently
applied by drawing an old stocking leg
over the leg, ccnfning it at the fetlock
joint, and filling it from above with the
poullice. When this is removed, anoint
the heels with an ointment of one part of
rosn, three parts of lard melted together,
and one part of calaminc powder, added
when the first mixture is cooling.
American AgricnIuyist.