The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-05-11
"GREASE HEEL"

The continued cold, wet weather is 80
favorable to the disease in horses known
as Cracked or Grease Heels" that we
give place to lengthy article on the sub
iect from good authority:
Cracked, or chapped heels, are due to
cold, wet and dirt, perhaps chiefly the
local injury which follows evaporation
from the surface after washing the legs.
Besides the local influences, the state
of the constitution must be taken into ac-
count and there is, further, good reason
to believe that some good persons have a
peculiar condition of the skin OF the
heels which predisposes them to the action
of the exciting cause of the disease.
Chapped heels occur in two distinct
forms, which may, for the sake OF conve-
nience, be divided into acute form OF the
disease as generally seen among horses In
full condition. Want of exercise and
abundance of food are likely to render
the system gross, as the carter will term
it. and under such circumstances any
trifing would be inclined to to assume an
unhealthy character; if the horse be now
exposed to the causes which are ordinarl-
ly concerned in the production of chapped
heels, the result will be that the cracks OF
the assure will present red, angry ap-
pearance, the edges of the skin will be
swollen and marked with an infammatory
flush, and considerable heat and pain will
be present. Sometimes the local excite
ment is so excessive that the system SYM
pathises with the state of the part, and
some amout of fever present
The acute stage of cracked heels
should always be carefully distinguished
from the common form of the disease,
because the usual remedies astringent
ointments and lotions-are exceedingly
injurious to an infamed part; and it COM
monty happens that the attendant, look
ing upon all cracks in the heels as identi-
cal in nature, tries his specifics in the first
instance, and does not discover his error
until the horse becomes excessively lame
under the treatment.
Generally it is desirable to avoid using
warm water dressings or poultices to the
heels of horses, on account of the tenden-
cy to relaxed condition Of the numer-
GUS follicles which exist'in that part, and
which are always ready to pour out an
abundant secretion on the slightest provo,
cation; but when the skin is highly in
famed, it is absolutely necessary to apply
| fermentation in the first instance, and al
forwards poultice of oatmeal in which o
little palm oil has been mixed may be
kept on for about II hours; the heels
will be in condition to benefit by the ap
plication of liniment, composed of one
part of solution of diacetate Of lead, with
eight parts of glycerene. This compound
is soothing in its action. and tends to keep
the skin in pliable state, and at the same
time is sufficiently astringent to correct
the tendency to excessive secretion from
the follicles of the skin. Attention
must be given to the state of the animals
constitution while the treatment which
had been recommended is being steadily
applied to the diseased part In most
cases it will be found necessary to dimin
ish the rations; mashes, and green food
or roots, should be allowed in moderate
quantities; exercise would, under ordinary
circumstances, be beneficial to an animal
in high condition, but the state of the
heels make it impossible to move the
horse for some days, and therefore, a dose
of purgative medicine becomes necessary
and may be repeated in a week with ad
vantage, if the horse is in very plethora
state. No attempt must be made to put
the animal to work until the cracks in the
skin are perfectly healed.