Journal of Agriculture. 



[9 Sept., 1907. 



{e) When the affected limb has been held up for some time in- 

 a state of flexion, as in shoeing, it is brought to the ground again 

 with very great difficultv, and, if the horse be moved on im- 

 mediately, the lameness 'is extreme for the first fe\v_ steps, the 

 characteristic "hen-running" action being very distinct. As a 

 doubt-relieving measure this test is very reliable. (See Fig. 93.) 

 The visible enlargement at the seat of spavin, when present, is, of 

 course, a valuable aid to the determination of the cause of lameness. 

 (See Figs. 90, 91, 95, and 96.) It may be best seen when standing 

 opposite the shoulder at about an arm's length distance. When viewed 

 from this position the inner line of a sound hock is usually straight 

 (see Fig. 94) ; but when a spavin is present there will be a fullness or 

 bulging of the line towards its lower end. Such fullness may appear in a 

 perfectl}- .s-ound horse which has rough or " coarse " hocks, but in such a 

 case it will be present on each hock. In judging of the existence or other- 



Fig. ()4. Clean hock. 

 (After Hayes.) 



wise of spavin, this question of bi-lateral symmetry, i.e., the sameness of 

 shape and contour of both hocks, is an important one. In the absence of 

 any of the characteristic symptoms detailed above it is a sound rule to 

 decide "no spavin" when both hocks are exactlv alike, no matter the 

 size and shape of the fullness, especially in horses of " bony '" type. 



Treatment. — The object of treatment is to hasten the completion of 

 the inflammatory action by which the bony deposit is formed — to hasten the 

 union of the bones involved into a so'lid mass ; so that the exciting cause 

 of pain and lameness, w^hich is the attrition or rubbing together of the 

 inflamed bones, mav be removed. To this end, either blistering or firing 

 is the most effective procedure. Neither should be attempted if there is- 

 a great amount of local heat or pain, but this is not common. 



As a blister, red mercury -ointment is perhaps the best. It should be 

 rubbed in vigorously, and will in most cases require to be repeated at 

 intervals of a few weeks. Failing success from blistering, firing should 

 be resorted to without hesitation ; in fact, were it not for the permanent 



