Oedema of the sheath is a form of local dropsy in which the tissues of the part become soaked with fluid, and consequently swollen. The fluid consists of the watery constituents of the blood which have escaped from the blood-vessels as the result of weakness.

An oedematous or dropsical condition of the sheath is so common a symptom in debilitating diseases as to call for little remark from those in attendance upon horses. It follows upon pulmonary and abdominal affections, specific diseases affecting various organs, as the result of anaemia, of heart failure, organic disease of the liver, accidental injury, surgical operations, bad and insufficient food, and old age.

An acute form is sometimes traceable to blows and kicks from bad-tempered attendants, and the swelling resulting from such violence leads to a very painful condition and difficulties in connection with urination.

The more frequent form of oedema of the sheath met with in working horses is that due to languid circulation, or to the presence of an accumulation of sebaceous material in the folds of skin within.

The Symptoms

The Symptoms are too obvious to call for description, save for the purpose of distinguishing between the simple swelling due to effusion of fluid and the more serious condition of painful and enlarged sheath, which has been described under the heading of phymosis or of paraphymosis. In simple oedema of the sheath the skin is found to pit on pressure of the finger, and the animal does not shrink as if in pain. The inflamed sheath is highly sensitive to manipulation and the skin tense and somewhat hard, and does not, as in the more simple form of the affection, leave a temporary dimple when pressed.

Treatment

Constitutional measures are generally called for, and the remedies accepted as most suitable, where debility or feeble circulation is the cause, are those of the tonic and diuretic class in combination; as, for instance, iron and gentian, with nitrate of potash, or terebinthinous substances, as the so-called Venice turpentine, resin, soap, etc. Small doses of aloes, antimonials, and other drugs which act upon the skin and kidneys are found to remove the fluid, while exercise alone will often have that effect. The abuse of diuretic medicines, in the hands of carters and others, finally renders the animal incapable of doing without them, and it is often only discovered when horses change hands.

The inside of the sheath should be explored by the hand, and accumulations of so-called " cod-wax " removed.

The parts should be liberally dressed, within and without, with lard or vaseline, as it is often found to assist greatly in relieving inconvenience to the animal in the passing of urine, besides having a decidedly curative effect.