The GREASE may originate in either an INTERNAL or an external cause; as well as be transmitted by hereditary taint (of SIRE or DAM) from one generation to another. An impure and acrimonious state of the blood, unattended to till it has acquired morbid malignity, must display itself in some part; and with horses of the kind described, it generally appears in the extremities, where the CIRCULATION is languid, and the least able to make RESISTANCE. Horses too long continued in MOORS of long lanky grass, intermixed with rushes, or in MARSHY MEADOWS of a swampy soil, where, in the dreary months of autumn and WINTER, their heels are never dry for weeks together, is a very probable foundation of permanent GREASE, or some other CHRONIC complaint, the original cause of which is seldom adverted to, perhaps never recollected. Cutaneous disorders not properly eradicated by MERCURIALS or ANTIMONIALS, but injudiciously thrown upon the circulation by REPELLENTS; the sudden absorption of a plentiful flow of milk, when a colt is taken from the dam; an extreme plethora, with a fizey viscidity of the blood; or any of those causes which too much relax the texture of THE SOLIDS, or impoverish and stagnate THE FLUIDS, may be more immediately or remotely productive of this disease.
External causes also frequently give rise to its appearance; a sudden check to perspiration by change of weather, or change of situation, from one stable to another; or from either to the external air, by turning out to grass from a warm and comfortable stable, unfavourably followed by a succession of cold nights, bleak winds, and rainy weather; washing the heels in hard well water after profuse perspiration; standing too constantly upon stale and filthy dung, for days and nights, impregnated with urine, so evidently prejudicial to the feet and frogs. Horses fed upon grains are remarked to be much subject to the disorder in a slight degree, and this tendency is probably strengthened by a want of cleanly attention, or a little assistance from medicinal counteraction.
Much mischief is frequently occasioned by the rash and injudicious interposition of some illiterate practitioner, who, with a degree of self-cunning, (peculiar to professional ignorance,) piques himself upon the superiority of his art, and confidently proceeds to oppose the predominant efforts which Nature has been induced to make for her OWN RELIEF. Influenced by the deceptive impression of imaginary success, he begins with mild repellents, drying washes, sharp waters, strong astringents, then styptics, and lastly MERCURIAL or VITRIOLIC caustics and escharotics, where having reached the utmost extent of his fertile faculties, he is surprized, but not MORTIFIED, at finding what he erroneously thought a remedy has proved TEN TIMES WORSE than the original disease. The Grease, upon its first appearance, is, by a proper course of medicine, and judicious management, very easily subdued, and radically cured. In its second stage, great PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE is required; and no expence should be spared, or necessary means omitted. In the third and last, DEATH is preferable to any attempt at cure.
GREY
.—The COLOUR of a HORSE is so called, where dark-coloured or BLACK hairs are proportionally intermixed with WHITE: some of those are beautifully mottled upon the rump, down the hind quarters, and across the gaskins, and are then called DAPPLED GREYS. It is admitted by the old proverb, and verified by all opinions, that "a GOOD horse can never be of a BAD colour:" there is, however, an exception to the adage, in a white or a light grey; for, by laying down with the hind quarter, on one side or the other, in the dung newly fallen, it is no uncommon thing to have a daily washing, and drying, before a horse of such colour can be taken out of the stable either to WORK or to EXERCISE.
GREYHOUND
.—The particular species of DOG passing under the denomination of greyhound, was formerly called GAZEHOUND, and is at the present day more universally known by the appellation of LONG DOG in many parts of the kingdom. The breed has been at all times carefully cultivated by the lovers of coursing, but has never been brought to so great a degree of enthusiastic perfection, as since the establishment of the different COURSING CLUBS and SOCIETIES in Norfolk, Essex, Berkshire, and the Flixton Wolds of Yorkshire. The members of each have, with an unremitting perseverance, endeavoured to excel each other with an unalloyed spice of SPORTING EMULATION: the late Lord Orford; the Marquis of Townsend; Colonel Thornton, of Thornville Royal; Major Topham, of the Wolds, and the Reverend H. Bate Dudley, of the Bradwell and Tillingham Club, in Essex, are those who have excelled every competitor, and improved the breed to the highest possible state of perfection.
Czarina was bred by the late Lord Orford; Jupiter and Claret, by Colonel Thornton; Snowball, by Major Topham; Miller, by the Reverend H. B. Dudley; and Schoolboy, by the celebrated Mr. (Vauxhall) Clarke. Czarina, the grand-dam of Snowball, was purchased at the late Lord Orford's sale by Colonel Thornton, with an intent to improve the breed, in which he was not disappointed. She won FORTY-SEVEN matches in Norfolk, Wiltshire, and Yorkshire, and never was beat. She displayed no signs of producing progeny till thirteen years old, when she brought forth eight whelps, got by Jupiter, who all lived, and ran in high form.
Snowball was got by Claret, (one of the eight whelps of Czarina,) and supposed to be, taken "for all in all," the surest dog to kill and take up that ever ran. He won FOUR CUPS, COUPLES, and upwards of thirty matches; one of which was so severe, that his opponent (a dog of Mr. Plumer's) died immediately after the course. Claret was got by young Jupiter, out of old Czarina; he challenged all Yorkshire, which was twice accepted; one match he won; and received forfeit for the other.
That truly celebrated dog, the Miller, was so large, awkward, and clumsey, when a puppy, that he had been nearly thrown aside, and not thought worthy of being brought into the field; but a friend of Mr. Dudley's having borrowed him, took him to the Marshes at St. Osyth, where, at only twelve months old, he won several matches in one day against the best dogs in the field. Having thus accidentally ran himself into reputation, he was, at his return, introduced to more powerful, at least more popular, opponents, where, however, he for SEVEN YEARS maintained his superiority, during SEVENTY-FOUR successive MATCHES, without having been beaten. He is at present a stallion in great estimation, as all the stock he has yet produced are excellent runners.