The Farmer's Own Book: A treatise on the numerous diseases of the horse: with an explanation of their symptoms, and the course of treatment to be pursued; also a treatise on the diseases of horned cattleKoogle, J. D.
Science
The Farmer's Own Book: A treatise on the numerous diseases of the horse: with an explanation of their symptoms, and the course of treatment to be pursued; also a treatise on the diseases of horned cattle
Grease consists of swollen legs, although swelled legs occur frequently,
yet there is no grease. Friction and bandaging will generally remove
this. Grease is a specific inflammation of the skin of the heels,
sometimes of the forefeet, but oftener of the hinder ones. It is not a
contagious disease, as some have asserted although when it once appears
in a stable, it frequently attacks almost every horse in it.--Bad stable
management is the true cause of it. The first appearance of grease is
usually a dry and scurfy state of the skin of the heel, with redness,
heat and itching. The heel should be well but gently washed with soap and
water, and as much of the scurf detached as is easily removed. If the
cracks are deep, with an ichorous discharge and considerable lameness,
it will be necessary to poultice. A poultice made of carrots boiled soft
and mashed will answer the purpose. The efficacy of a carrot poultice
is seldom sufficiently appreciated in cases like this. The poultice
just referred to should be diligently applied at night, to insure
success, and when the heat and tenderness and stiffness of motion have
diminished, astringent lotions should be applied. Either the alum lotion
or a strong decoction of oak bark--perhaps the alum dissolved in whiskey
will do better than water, or the alum dissolved in a decoction of bark
will answer better than either. This disease requires perseverance--the
decoctions should be made very strong. After washing several times should
there be watery matter on the heels or leg, wash it off with wafer and
soap. Moderate physicing, bran mashes, &c. will be found very beneficial.
The above decoctions will never fail to cure the scratches.
INFLAMMATION OF THE FEET, ACUTE FOUNDER.
This is a disease that was less understood than any other until very
recently. It often arises by allowing a horse that is very much heated to
stand in the snow or cold water for any length of time, or where he is
apt to become chilled, which produces a general stiffness throughout the
entire system; but it will soon be observed that the seat of the disease
is in the feet, by the disinclination of the horse to remain upon them.
SYMPTOMS.
The earliest symptoms of fever in the feet are restiveness, frequent
shifting of the fore legs, but no pawing. The pulse is quickened, the
flanks heaving, the nostrils red and his moaning indicating great pain.
He looks about his litter, as if preparing to lie down; he continues
to shift his weight from foot to foot; he is afraid to draw his feet
sufficiently under him for the purpose of lying down, but at length he
drops. His lying down will distinguish inflammation of the feet from
that of the lungs, in which the horse obstinately persists in standing
until he drops. His quietness when down will distinguish it from colic or
inflammation of the bowels. He will point out the seat of the disease by
looking at the part; his muzzle will often rest on the feet or affected
foot.
TREATMENT--REMEDY NO. 1.
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