240 The Diseases of Animals 



the synovial fluid. It is fairly common in young large- 

 jointed colts, especially of the heavy draft breeds. It 

 is usually caused by strains upon the joints, such as 

 heavy pulling, or any overwork when the animal is 

 too young. It rarely causes lameness; although when 

 the bog -spavin is caused by a severe strain there may 

 be lameness resulting from the injury. In colts, bog- 

 spavins often disappear by the time they are three 

 years old. 



The treatment is to cause the synovial fluid to be 

 absorbed. This can usually be done by pressure and 

 cold, applied to the outside of the joint by means of 

 wet bandages. Before putting on the bandages, hand- 

 rubbing the part will often cause much of the fluid to 

 be absorbed. Tincture of iodine may be painted on 

 the part, or iodine ointment rubbed in once daily. 

 When the part begins to get sore this treatment should 

 be withheld for a few days. A small amount of red 

 blister rubbed over the spavin sometimes proves benefi- 

 cial, but severe blisters should be avoided. A spring 

 truss is made, to be applied to the spavin for an hour 

 or two twice daily. This truss, by exerting pressure, 

 causes the fluid to be absorbed. Bog- spavins should 

 never be opened with a knife. In cases of long stand- 

 ing or in aged horses treatment is unsatisfactory. 



WIND -PUFFS 



A wind -puff is a condition similar to bog -spavin, 

 except that it does not occur on a joint, but usually 

 between tendons where small sacks, containing synovial 



