GREASP.. A nasty name for a nasty disorder, con sisting in an undue issue of a peculiar, greasy, of fensive matter, from the hollow part we denomi nate the heel. There is, in a state of health, a con tinual oozing from this part, of a secretion of a ceruminous nature, which serves to lubricate it, and facilitate flexion and extension (the same as is the case in the arm-pit of a man), and it is in con sequence either of the filthy condition of the part, or an attack of inflammation in it, that this secre tion becomes altered in quality, or quantity, or both: in which consists grease. The most common cause, of all others, of this disorder, is the prac tice of washing or wetting the heels, and allowing them to get dry spontaneously: this, in cold wea ther in particular, by the evaporation it creates, leaves the heels in a state of coldness; in which condition they arc, like all other, and even more than most other parts, susceptible of inflammation, which is almost certain to come on with the return of heat or warmth to them. The inflammation gives rise to the augmented issue; its continuance alters its nature; the matter collects and incrusts about the heels, rapidly grows putrid, and thus be comes the source of a stinking, loathsome effluvia. The disease may be confined to the hollow of the heel, or it may extend up the back of the leg, even as high as the hock. In the first stages, it consists simply in altered action of the secreting parts—in an issue unnatural in quantity and quality; but gra dually, in the advanced stages, the skin itself, from which the discharge comes, undergoes a change; its surface becomes pimply and exceeding tender to the touch, and ultimately little irregular pustu lous eminences arise from it, to which, on account of their form, farriers have given the appellation of grapes; in such a manner that, in Ow, fully formed state of these excrescences, the leg (to use rather a happy comparison of Sainbel's) altogether resem bles " the outward coat of a pine-apple." In the first instance, but little soreness is manifested; but, as the disease spreads, and particularly whenever the leg becomes much swollen, the pain on motion appears to be intense; for the horse will catch up the diseased limb, and hobble along upon the three others, rather than bear the smallest weight upon it.
The treatment will be simple, or more or less complicated, according to the duration, stage, and virulence of the disorder. A case consisting sim ply in augmented issue will require only some mild astringent application, such as equal parts of the powder of alum and bole .drmenian, or of those of charcoal and calamine; or, should an ointment be preferred (and it is what we are in the practice of using), two drains of finely powdered alum are to be rubbed into an ounce of hog's lard; or, what the druggists sell as mild citrine ointment. Should the legs fill. a diuretic or. purging ball should be given at the time, and the animal must be wadkecd out twice a-day. Whenever the heels, however, are hot, swollen, and tender, instead of this, emollient poul tices must be employed, and continued until such time as the inflammation is mitigated; after which astringents may be used. When there is much f tid discharge, a charcoal poultice w ill be found to be the best corrective. In neglected, rancid cases, as soon as we have diminished the inflammation in the limb by local bleeding, purging, and poulticing, we must apply this liniment to tile heel, after the manner of a poultice, viz. two drams of powdered blue vitriol, half an ounce of alum in powder, and one ounce of Armenian bole, mixed together, and stirred into three ounces of common oil. It should be allowed to remain applied three days; after which the horse should be exercised well, to take the swelling away, and then fresh dressing is to be applied. In this way may a certain cure he effected in all cases excepting those having grapes: and they must be cut off with a sharp knife, and afterwards cauterized; after which, the same liniment, with twice the quantity of the vitriol, should he applied all over the diseased surface.