ii6 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



up of a light spongy open texture, highly elastic, and 

 which we know as cancellated tissue. They are subject 

 to much occasional pressure, which as you know as surely 

 tends to enlargement (hypertrophy) of any structure as 

 constant pressure tends to the diminution (atrophy) of 

 any structure. When these lower bones are well de- 

 veloped, the hock is said to be " coarse." Horses use 

 their hocks as they do their fore feet in making one do 

 more work than its fellow, in which case its lower, 

 spongy bones will be larger — further developed. Hence 

 we so often find in cases where we have this coarseness 

 that these hyper-developed bones are larger in one hock 

 than the other. The very fact of their coarseness shows 

 their propensity to accommodate themselves to their 

 requirements. Where we find coarse hocks, I again re- 

 peat, we find structures that both can and do accom- 

 modate themselves to exigencies. The process of nature 

 to which we give the name "spavin," is neither more 

 nor less than one of nature's attempts at ankylosis 

 disturbed dim fig the attempt. The cure which she begins 

 she is very frequently indeed not able to finish on 

 account of the forced exercise of the parts. What she 

 aims at is to glue the bones at the bottom of the hock 

 together by means of an ulcero-plastic inflammation. 

 Now I have got to explain what I mean by this in- 

 flammation, seeing that the College of Physicians only 

 enumerates six inflammations, viz.: — i. Ulcerative; 

 2. Suppurative; 3. Plastic; 4. Rheumatic; 5. Gouty; 

 and 6. Gonorrhoeal. To these veterinarians may add 



