A tumor may be small and soft, yet it must be respected. It may be hard, or even ulcerated and large, still its excision may be readily accomplished. The majority of these growths which appear upon the horse, however, are not malignant. Nevertheless, let every man consult some duly qualified veterinarian of experience before he resorts to measures which, possibly, may lead to the acutest regret. One caution must be given before the subject is concluded. Gray horses, which have grown paler with age, or have become white, are liable to an incurable and malignant disease termed =melanosis=, which hereafter will be fully described. The presence of this disorder is generally testified by the appearance of some external tumor. Unless that enlargement be of great size and admirably situated for removal, it on no account should be interfered with. Let, therefore, every light-gray or white horse having a tumor be submitted to some experienced judgment, and let the owner be guided by the opinion he receives. SWOLLEN OR FILLED LEGS. These are one of the most common troubles of the stable; the coachman is very apt to complain piteously that in the morning he is sure to find such and such a horse with the legs filled. Commonly the hinder limbs below the hock are thus affected; sometimes the fore legs below the knee will be involved. The coachman mostly bandages the parts. In mild cases this resort may answer; but in bad instances the leg above the bandage is apt to enlarge. The cloth or flannel, before applied, should be wetted; this, however, affords but a temporary relief; the wet often causes the hair to curl, and the uniformity of the appearance is thereby spoiled. After some time, the bandage frequently leaves its impress upon the leg, and it is astonishing how long in peculiar cases this impress will continue. [Illustration: THE HORSE'S LEG OF A NATURAL SIZE.] [Illustration: THE HORSE'S LEG WHEN FILLED.] =Swollen legs= mostly occur in heavy animals and in overgrown carriage horses; such creatures are of weakly or soft constitutions. They have a vast tendency to become partially dropsical. Fast work exhausts the system of the carriage horse, while high food stimulates its natural disposition toward disease. With heavy horses, the prolonged hours of labor are equally debilitating, and the Sunday's stagnation generates disorder; neither have any innate hardiness to withstand injurious influences; both, when highly fat, have the weakness inherent to their constitutions greatly increased. The quadruped, loaded with the accumulations of many months' repletion, may please the eye of the master; but it is rendered more subject to disease, and less capable of labor or of activity.