HORSES: THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



Symptoms. — Look at the point of the hock, standing a 

 HttU^ to one side, and, if there is a swelhng, it will be seen 

 at a glance. If it is due to cause No. i, the skin feels thickened 

 and tight, while dropsy (watery or serous abscess) beneath 

 it and the tendon (No. 2), gives rise to a swelling having an 

 elastic feel. 



When the tendon is swollen it has a very hard feeling. 

 If due to cause No. 3, the swelling is felt between the tendon 

 and bone. Supposing that the animal has just bruised the 

 points of its hock, then the owner may expect to find a degree 

 of inflammation about it, viz., increased heat, pain^ swell- 

 ing, and perhaps lameness, though it must be said that this 

 latter is not usually present in a horse having a capped hock. 



Treatment. — If the injury has just been received, and the 

 point of the hock feels hot and tender, then apply a lotion of 

 a cooling nature, such as : — 



Recipe. — Tincture of arnica, i ounce ; Goulard's water, 

 ^ ounce ; water, i pint ; mix, and make lotion. 



Directions. — Keep the hock well wetted with this lotion, 

 and apply a flannel bandage ; continue several days. 

 When the skin is thickened, use a little iodine oint- 

 ment daily. If a serous abscess, i.e., a dropsical or watery 

 sweUing, forms, put a tight bandage on the hock, so that when 

 the horse attempts to flex the leg, it may rupture the swell- 

 ing. During the early stage of capped hock, the animal must 

 not be put to work, and a high heeled shoe can be fltted with 

 advantage. Wounds will recpiire separate treatment (see 

 WoundsY 



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