diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 69ac1eec2..8fd85e91e 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ E void FDECL(revive_mon, (ANY_P *, long));
 E int NDECL(donull);
 E int NDECL(dowipe);
 E void FDECL(set_wounded_legs, (long, int));
-E void NDECL(heal_legs);
+E void FDECL(heal_legs, (int));
 
 /* ### do_name.c ### */
 
diff --git a/src/do.c b/src/do.c
index bcae4ca43..00f0b8edd 100644
--- a/src/do.c
+++ b/src/do.c
@@ -1882,7 +1882,8 @@ register int timex;
 }
 
 void
-heal_legs()
+heal_legs(how)
+int how; /* 0: ordinary, 1: dismounting steed, 2: limbs turn to stone */
 {
     if (Wounded_legs) {
         if (ATEMP(A_DEX) < 0) {
@@ -1890,7 +1891,11 @@ heal_legs()
             context.botl = 1;
         }
 
-        if (!u.usteed) {
+        /* when mounted, wounded legs applies to the steed;
+           during petrification countdown, "your limbs turn to stone"
+           before the final stages and that calls us (how==2) to cure
+           wounded legs, but we want to suppress the feel better message */
+        if (!u.usteed && how != 2) {
             const char *legs = body_part(LEG);
 
             if ((EWounded_legs & BOTH_SIDES) == BOTH_SIDES)
@@ -1900,7 +1905,7 @@ heal_legs()
             Your("%s %s better.", legs, vtense(legs, "feel"));
         }
 
-        HWounded_legs = EWounded_legs = 0;
+        HWounded_legs = EWounded_legs = 0L;
 
         /* Wounded_legs reduces carrying capacity, so we want
            an encumbrance check when they're healed.  However,
@@ -1912,7 +1917,7 @@ heal_legs()
            it might be immediately contradicted [able to carry
            more when steed becomes healthy, then possible floor
            feedback, then able to carry less when back on foot]. */
-        if (!in_steed_dismounting)
+        if (how == 0)
             (void) encumber_msg();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/eat.c b/src/eat.c
index cff0a12fd..0d5e83ab2 100644
--- a/src/eat.c
+++ b/src/eat.c
@@ -2217,7 +2217,7 @@ struct obj *otmp;
             }
         }
         if (!otmp->cursed)
-            heal_legs();
+            heal_legs(0);
         break;
     case EGG:
         if (flesh_petrifies(&mons[otmp->corpsenm])) {
diff --git a/src/potion.c b/src/potion.c
index 281a2e4a3..9ee433061 100644
--- a/src/potion.c
+++ b/src/potion.c
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ boolean talk;
     set_itimeout(&HStun, xtime);
 }
 
+/* Sick is overloaded with both fatal illness and food poisoning (via
+   u.usick_type bit mask), but delayed killer can only support one or
+   the other at a time.  They should become separate intrinsics.... */
 void
 make_sick(xtime, cause, talk, type)
 long xtime;
@@ -116,7 +119,7 @@ int type;
     struct kinfo *kptr;
     long old = Sick;
 
-#if 0
+#if 0   /* tell player even if hero is unconscious */
     if (Unaware)
         talk = FALSE;
 #endif
@@ -152,7 +155,10 @@ int type;
     kptr = find_delayed_killer(SICK);
     if (Sick) {
         exercise(A_CON, FALSE);
-        if (!old || !kptr) {
+        /* setting delayed_killer used to be unconditional, but that's
+           not right when make_sick(0) is called to cure food poisoning
+           if hero was also fatally ill; this is only approximate */
+        if (xtime || !old || !kptr) {
             int kpfx = ((cause && !strcmp(cause, "#wizintrinsic"))
                         ? KILLED_BY : KILLED_BY_AN);
 
@@ -169,7 +175,7 @@ const char *msg;
 {
     long old = Slimed;
 
-#if 0
+#if 0   /* tell player even if hero is unconscious */
     if (Unaware)
         msg = 0;
 #endif
@@ -177,7 +183,7 @@ const char *msg;
     if ((xtime != 0L) ^ (old != 0L)) {
         context.botl = TRUE;
         if (msg)
-            pline1(msg);
+            pline("%s", msg);
     }
     if (!Slimed)
         dealloc_killer(find_delayed_killer(SLIMED));
@@ -193,7 +199,7 @@ const char *killername;
 {
     long old = Stoned;
 
-#if 0
+#if 0   /* tell player even if hero is unconscious */
     if (Unaware)
         msg = 0;
 #endif
@@ -201,7 +207,7 @@ const char *killername;
     if ((xtime != 0L) ^ (old != 0L)) {
         context.botl = TRUE;
         if (msg)
-            pline1(msg);
+            pline("%s", msg);
     }
     if (!Stoned)
         dealloc_killer(find_delayed_killer(STONED));
@@ -899,9 +905,9 @@ register struct obj *otmp;
         }
         break;
     case POT_SPEED:
+        /* skip when mounted; heal_legs() would heal steeds legs */
         if (Wounded_legs && !otmp->cursed && !u.usteed) {
-            /* heal_legs() would heal steeds legs */
-            heal_legs();
+            heal_legs(0);
             unkn++;
             break;
         }
diff --git a/src/pray.c b/src/pray.c
index 5569c33f0..e1f55cb49 100644
--- a/src/pray.c
+++ b/src/pray.c
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ int trouble;
         break;
     }
     case TROUBLE_WOUNDED_LEGS:
-        heal_legs();
+        heal_legs(0);
         break;
     case TROUBLE_STUNNED:
         make_stunned(0L, TRUE);
diff --git a/src/sit.c b/src/sit.c
index 0f8bedbb4..1aa8085bf 100644
--- a/src/sit.c
+++ b/src/sit.c
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ dosit()
                 u.ucreamed = 0;
                 make_blinded(0L, TRUE);
                 make_sick(0L, (char *) 0, FALSE, SICK_ALL);
-                heal_legs();
+                heal_legs(0);
                 context.botl = 1;
                 break;
             case 5:
diff --git a/src/steed.c b/src/steed.c
index 8cbf9d0ef..6b940c26e 100644
--- a/src/steed.c
+++ b/src/steed.c
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ boolean force;      /* Quietly force this animal */
     if (Wounded_legs) {
         Your("%s are in no shape for riding.", makeplural(body_part(LEG)));
         if (force && wizard && yn("Heal your legs?") == 'y')
-            HWounded_legs = EWounded_legs = 0;
+            HWounded_legs = EWounded_legs = 0L;
         else
             return (FALSE);
     }
@@ -542,12 +542,8 @@ int reason; /* Player was thrown off etc. */
     }
     /* While riding, Wounded_legs refers to the steed's legs;
        after dismounting, it reverts to the hero's legs. */
-    if (repair_leg_damage) {
-        /* [TODO: make heal_legs() take a parameter to handle this] */
-        in_steed_dismounting = TRUE;
-        heal_legs();
-        in_steed_dismounting = FALSE;
-    }
+    if (repair_leg_damage)
+        heal_legs(1);
 
     /* Release the steed and saddle */
     u.usteed = 0;
diff --git a/src/timeout.c b/src/timeout.c
index 1360f1132..110aa03ad 100644
--- a/src/timeout.c
+++ b/src/timeout.c
@@ -137,17 +137,17 @@ stoned_dialogue()
         multi_reason = "getting stoned";
         nomovemsg = You_can_move_again; /* not unconscious */
         /* "your limbs have turned to stone" so terminate wounded legs */
-        if ((HWounded_legs & TIMEOUT) != 0L && !u.usteed)
-            set_itimeout(&HWounded_legs, 0L);
+        if (Wounded_legs && !u.usteed)
+            heal_legs(2);
         break;
     case 2: /* turned to stone */
         if ((HDeaf & TIMEOUT) > 0L && (HDeaf & TIMEOUT) < 5L)
             set_itimeout(&HDeaf, 5L); /* avoid Hear_again at tail end */
-        /* if also vomiting or turning into slime, stop those */
-        if ((Vomiting & TIMEOUT) != 0L)
-            set_itimeout(&Vomiting, 0L), context.botl = 1;
-        if ((Slimed & TIMEOUT) != 0L)
-            set_itimeout(&Slimed, 0L), context.botl = 1;
+        /* if also vomiting or turning into slime, stop those (no messages) */
+        if (Vomiting)
+            make_vomiting(0L, FALSE);
+        if (Slimed)
+            make_slimed(0L, (char *) 0);
         break;
     default:
         break;
@@ -342,8 +342,8 @@ slime_dialogue()
         break;
     case 1L: /* turning into slime */
         /* if also turning to stone, stop doing that (no message) */
-        if ((Stoned & TIMEOUT) != 0L)
-            set_itimeout(&Stoned, 0L), context.botl = 1;
+        if (Stoned)
+            make_stoned(0L, (char *) 0, KILLED_BY_AN, (char *) 0);
         break;
     }
     exercise(A_DEX, FALSE);
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ nh_timeout()
                 stop_occupation();
                 break;
             case WOUNDED_LEGS:
-                heal_legs();
+                heal_legs(0);
                 stop_occupation();
                 break;
             case HALLUC: