DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 175 



some of the old-time "horse doctors/' who still cling to their 

 old-time customs. 



Causes. Blood-letting from the large vein in the neck is prob- 

 ably the most common cause of the trouble and is the most dan- 

 gerous kind. Other causes are injuries, abscesses, tumors, etc. 



Symptoms. In most cases the vein is swollen, thickened, and 

 hardened considerably. The swelling, with great tenderness, 

 may extend along the affected vessel, and the animal show gen- 

 eral disturbance and fever. 



Treatment. Tie the horse's head up high and bathe the swell- 

 ing with warm water for one or two hours at a time. After 

 bathing with warm water, dry off the parts and rub them well 

 with our Liniment (see Appendix). Give one pint of raw lin- 

 seed oil as a drench, and give one teaspoonful of saltpetre in the 

 drinking water twice a day. Use the animal carefully, and givo 

 a laxative diet. The large vein usually becomes destroyed, after 

 which a horse is considered unsound. 



OPEN JOINT. 



What is meant by open joint is where a joint in the body is 

 laid open by an injury and the joint-water (synovia) is allowed 

 to leak out. It is one of the most serious injuries to which the 

 horse is liable. Every joint is surrounded loj a thin membrane, 

 called the synovial membrane, which has the power of secreting 

 or making the joint-water. When the joint is not in motion, very 

 little, if any, is secreted, but while the joint is working there is 

 sufficient oil (joint-water) secreted to keep the joint oiled so it 

 will work easily. The joints are like all machinery they need 

 plenty of oil to keep them in good working order. It is a mis- 

 taken idea, if a joint is opened and the joint-water runs out, 



