246 Veterinary Elements. 



may flex (close the joint) the hock up tightly and have 

 the animal trotted off quickly, which, if affected, will 

 limp perceptibly. The hocks should also be felt with 

 the hands, the off hock with the left palm, etc. The 

 treatment is preventive and curative, the former by 

 avoiding the use of spavined sires or dams, by proper shoe- 

 ing and avoidance of too heavy loads; the curative con- 

 sists in reducing the inflammation by giving rest, warm 

 fomentations, a high-heeled shoe, and a blister (the red 

 iodide of mercury), and if that fails the firing iron and 

 blister, which should be left to the veterinarian. It is an 

 unsoundness. In some cases in which firing does not 

 relieve, tibial neurectomy (cutting of the nerve) or 

 cunean tenotomy (cutting of the tendon) of the parts 

 should be performed by the surgeon. 



Bog spavin is a condition in which the capsular liga- 

 ment of the hock joint is distended by joint oil (synovia), 

 appearing as a soft swelling on the inner sides of the 

 hock, just above the site of bone 

 , spavin. This disease occurs in 

 two forms, (I) without any in- 

 flammation or lameness; (2) a 

 hard, painful swelling with ac- 

 companying lameness. The 

 causes are premature overwork; 

 defective conformation, due to 

 heredity; the swelling being soft 

 and cool, it may be due to over- 

 BOG SPAVIN AND THOROUGH- feeding, such as for show pur- 



PIN TRUSS. 



poses, in such cases cold water 



compresses and a good hand rubbing for 20 to 30 minutes 

 before taking before the judges will often remove the 



