DISEASES OF HORSES. 



( 'i KP. There arc often injuries of particular parts of the, 

 hock-joint. Curb is an affection of this kind. It is an 

 enlargement at the back of the hock, three or four inches 

 below its point. It is either a strain of the ring-like liga- 

 ment which binds the tendons in their place, or of the sheath 

 of the tendons ; oftener, however, of the ligament than of 

 the sheath. Any sudden action of the liml) of more than 

 usual violence may produce it, and therefore horses are found 

 to 'throw out curbs' atter a hardly-contested race, an extra- 

 ordinary lea}), a severe gallop over heavy ground, or a sudden 

 check in the gallop. Young horses are particularly liable to 

 it, and horses that are cow-Jiocked, whose hocks and legs 

 resemble those of the cow, the hocks being turned inward, 

 and legs forming a considerable angle outwards. This i* 

 intelligible enough ; for in hocks so formed, the annular liga- 

 ment must be continually on the stretch, in order to confine 

 the tendon. Curbs are generally accompanied by considera- 

 ble lameness at their first appearance, but the swelling is not 

 always great. They are best detected by observing the leg 

 sideway. The first object in attempting the cure is to abate 

 inflammation, and this will be most readily accomplished by 

 cold evaporating lotions frequently applied to the part. Equal 

 portions of spirit of wine, water, and vinegar, will afford an 

 excellent application. It will be almost impossible to keep a 

 bandage on. If the heat and lameness are considerable, it 

 will be prudent to give a dose of physic, and to bleed from 

 the subcutaneous vein, whose course is near it ; and whether 

 the injury is of the annular ligament, or the sheath of the 

 tendon, more active means will be necessary to perfect a 

 cure. Either a liquid blister should be rubbed on the part, 

 consisting of a viuus or turpentine tincture of cnntharide,', 

 and this daily applied until some considerable swelling takes 

 place ; or, what is the preferable plan, the hair should be 

 cut off, and the part blistered as soon as the heat has Lccn 

 subdued. The blister should be repeated until the swelling 

 has disappeared, und the horse goes sound. In severe cases 

 it may be necessary to lire ; but a fair trial, however, should 

 be given to milder measures. If the iron is used, it should 

 be applied in straight lines. There are few lamenesses in 

 which absolute and long-continued rest is more requisite. It 

 leaves the parts materially weakened, and, if the horse is 

 soon put to work again, the lameness will frequently return. 

 No horse that has had curbs, should be put even to ordinary 

 work in less than a month after the apparent cure ; and, even 



