128 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



When both hocks have been causticked, and only one 

 of them has had a spavin, and the incisions have both 

 been behind and below the spavin place, you will still 

 have the two cicatrices and enlargements over the seat 

 of spavin in one or other if not both hocks. Indeed 

 I scarcely see how you can be deceived, after you have 

 once had your suspicions awakened, and your minds 

 educated what to look for. Firing is always obvious. 

 Setons, to be of use, it is thought, ought to remain in 

 three weeks, and if so, you have thickened cicatrices 

 in two" places — above and beneath the spavin place. 

 Blistering leaves the hair stronger over the place, if it 

 does nothing further. The hair is seen not to lie well 

 over the parts. There is nothing in the way of active 

 treatment for spavin that does not leave evidences, 

 always to be found when looked for by one who knows 

 what to look for. 



We frequently come across clean hocks that have been 

 fired ; hocks having not the faintest trace of spavin ; then 

 what are we to do ? What I have always done, when the 

 horse is sound in other respects and has well-formed 

 hocks, has been to pass the horse without even a 

 comment on the firing marks. Some really practical 

 veterinarians, in firing a spavined hock, fire — but more 

 slightly — its fellow hock at the same time, although it 

 may have no spavin ; because, they say, horses so often 

 throw out spavin on the sound hock during the time the 

 fired, spavined hock is being pained and rested, on 

 account of their resting too much on the sound leg at 



