CURB. 133 



ENLARGEMENT OF THE HOCK. 



The origin of this is a sprain or inflammation, aflFecting 

 generally the hock-joint, produced principally from some 

 sudden or violent concussion ; checking the horse abruptly 

 when going at a rapid pace, or from the animal being com- 

 pelled to draw a greater weight than his strength will 

 enable him to do comfortably. Considerable lameness, with 

 tenderness of the parts, always accompany this ; but these 

 are not so difficult to remove as in more limited inflamma- 

 tion. It will yield to rest and fomentation in general ; 

 but, if not, it will be necessary to have recourse to firing, 

 which generally proves effectual. However, it too frequently 

 happens that the enlargement of the v/hole joint remains. 

 But this will not incapacitate him for work ; and if treated 

 with ordinary caution, he may be worked during the re- 

 mainder of his life without any increase of swelling or 

 inflammation returning, although the parts around the hock- 

 joint are altered in structure, and to a certain extent 

 weakened. Although a horse may never afterwards exhibit 

 lameness, still, where permanent swelling of the hock-joint 

 exists, he is, in point of fact, regarded as unsound ; because, 

 if he happen by necessity or accident to be subjected to 

 extra hard work for a day or two, he is almost certain to 

 become lame, and that too for life. Still, however, many 

 a good and useful horse has enlargement of the hock. 



CURB. 

 A curb is situated some inches below the point of the 

 hock, (see plate 7, fig. 3, a, and fig, 8, e,) and is an enlarge- 

 ment of the ligamentary bands of the part. When the 

 limb is viewed from the side, a gradual puflSng out of this 

 part will be observable ; and if it JJS at all large or inflamed. 



