The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-08

This ailment occurs sometimes IN the
fore feet, but oftener in the hind feet;
and though neither contagious nor cpl
zootic, it not unfrequently appears
about one time, or within brief period,
on most or all of the horses in q stable.
1t essentially consists in q stoppage OF
the normal secretious of the skin, which
is beneficially provided for maintaining
q soft condition of the skin of tho heel,
and preventing chapping and excori-
alton; and 1t usually develops itself in
redssss, dryness and scur6ness of the
skin; but in bad or prolonged cases, il
is accompanied with deep cracks, an
ichorous discharge, more or less lame
ness, and even great liberation and
considerable fungus growthi and in the
worst cases it spreads athwart all the
heel, extends on the fetlock or ascends
the leg, and is accompanied with ex-
tensive swelling and general oozing
disch arge, of peculiarly strong, disa-
greeable odor.
Most of the causes of grease are
referable to bad management, especially
in regard to great and sudden changes
in the exterior temperature of the heels.
The feet of the horse may be alternately
heated by the bedding and cooled by
draft from the open stable door; or they
may first be made hot and sensitive by
the irritating action of the urine and
filth on the stable floor, and then vio-
lently reacted on by the cold breezes OF
| the open air, or they may be moist and
feeking when the horse is led out to
work and then chilled for long period
by the slow evaporation of the moisture
| from them amid the clods and soil OF
the field; or they may be warm and
even perspiring with the labor OF the
day, and next plunged into stream OF
washed with cold water, aud then al.
lowed to dry partly in the open sir and
partly in the stable; and in many OF these
ways, or of any others which occasion
sudden changes of temperature in the
heels, especially when those changes
are accompanied or aggravated by the
irritating action of filth, grease is ex-
ceedingly liable to be induced. Want
of exercise, high feeding, and whatever
tends to accumulate or to stagnate the
normal greasy secretion in the skin OF
the heels, also operate, in some degree.
as causes. BY mere good management
and by avoiding these known causes
horse owners might prevent the appear
ance of this disease altogether:
In the early, dry, scurfy stage OF
grease, the heel may be well cleaned
with soft soap and water, and after
wards thoroughly dried, and then treat
ed with dilution of Goulard's Extract
one part to eight parts of water, or
one part with six parts of lard oil. In
the mildest form of the stage of cracks
and ichorous discharge, after cleansing,
some drying powder, such as equal
quantities of white lead and putty Jim
pure protoxide of zinc), may be ap-
Piled. or simply the mixture of Gou-
lard's Extract with lard oil may be con-
tinued. In the virulent form of cracks,
accompanied with liberation, the heels
ought to be daily washed clean with
warm water, and afterwards bathed
with mild astringent lotion, and every
morning and evening thinly poulticed
or coated with carbolized ointment;
and the whole system ought to be acted
on by alternatives. by nightly bran
mash, and. if the animal be in full con-
dition, with dose of purgative medi-
cine. In the worst and most extensive
| ~ Jspichu eases, pOoitiSCS VI 'SAJ
cooling kind, particularly poultiees OF
scraped carrots or scraped turnips,
ought to be used day and night, both
for the sake of their own action. and as
preparatives to the action of the astrin-
gent application; and the whole course
of treatment ought to aim at the abate-
ment of the infammatory action, previ-
Gus to the stopping of the discharge.
Nothing tends so much to prevent
grease and swelling Of the legs as fire.
quent hand rubbing and cleansing the
heels carefully IS soon as horse comes
In from exercise or work. In inveterate
sases of grease, where the disease ap-
pears to have become habitual, in some
degree, run at grass. when in season,
is the only remedy. If dry paddock
is available, where horse can be shell
tered in bad weather, it will DE found e1-
tremely convenient; as in such circum-
stances, he may perform his usual Ia
Dor, and at the same time be kept free
from the complaint--Prairie Farmer.
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