Should the spurious granulations have begun to sprout, lose no time in having the horse cast. Have near at hand a small pot, with a charcoal fire beneath it. Let the vessel be full of boiling water. Within the fluid, previous to the casting, insert several irons; then throw the animal. With a keen knife excise the external bunches of proud flesh. As each lump is removed, much bleeding will ensue; therefore, before using the knife again, take an iron and lay it flat upon the raw surface. Should one not check the hemorrhage, return the first to the saucepan and apply a second. It is necessary to operate with as small a loss of blood as possible; for horses having grease are always old and debilitated. In this manner proceed till all the external growths are cut away. Then let the animal rise. Enough has been suffered for one occasion; more agony the exhausted system of the animal might not sustain. Besides, with every attention concerning the irons, the bleeding, generally, will not permit more to be accomplished.
One thing has been forgotten. When removing the fungoid excrescences, it is always well, for the comfort of the operator, to have the leg previously saturated with chloride of zinc; also to have a man, with a sponge and a quart of the solution, ready to bathe the limb as fresh surfaces are exposed. Subsequently wet the leg frequently with the lotion last recommended.
In another three days the animal may, a second time, be cast. The operation being again confined to the crop of growths which on the former occasion were exposed; all the previous directions should also be strictly carried out. After three days have once more been suffered to elapse, the horse, if necessary, should be thrown for the last time, and the knife once more employed. The after-treatment will depend much upon circumstances. If the ulceration predominates, employ the last lotion. Should the granulations appear likely to grow, make use of the first solution of chloride of zinc—only it should be double the strength which was originally recommended. When both ulceration and granulation appear equal, the first and last lotions may be alternated.
Such are the chief remedies necessary for the cure of grease. The other measures are: the removal to a loose box thickly bedded with refuse tan; the food should be liberal—old beans are now of every service; each feed of oats should be rendered damp, and a handful of ground oak-bark ought to be thoroughly mixed with it. For medicine, those excellent tonic and alterative drinks may be thus prepared, and given daily:—
Drink for Grease.
| Liquor arsenicalis | One ounce. |
| Tincture of the muriate of iron | One ounce and a half. |
| Porter or stout | One quart. |
| Mix, and give one pint night and morning. |
Chopped roots, speared wheat, hay tea, and a little cut grass, should it be in season, are all proper in this disease. At the same time, walking exercise is much to be commended. Motion quickens the circulation; but in grease it seems, in a manner which is not understood, also to allay pain. A horse having grease will be led out of the stable limping lame; but after an hour's exercise it may return walking firmly and almost soundly. After cleanliness, good food and medicine, nothing is so beneficial to grease as moderate exercise.
MALLENDERS AND SALLENDERS.
MALLENDERS, OR A SCURFY PATCH AT THE
BACK OF THE KNEE.