SPAVIN. 305 



Firing is undoubtedly the popular remedy for spavin, but it should 

 not be resorted to until fair trial has been made of the other agent 

 mentioned above and infra. 



Firing sound hocks to " strengthen " them cannot be too strongly de- 

 precated, not only as inhuman, but as useless. 



608. Active treatment not to he adopted rashly. 



The owner should not be over-alarmed or tempted too readily into the 

 adoption of active treatment by his horse going lame during the forma- 

 tion of a spavin. Such is the usual case, and it probably arises, not from 

 interference by the exostosis with the bending motion, but simply from 

 the pressure of the new deposit on the inflamed periosteum covering the 

 bone. The pain, and with it the lameness, usually abates as soon as the 

 periosteum has enlarged and accommodated itself to the exostosis ; and 

 generally disappears altogether when by rest and other appropriate treat- 

 ment the iuflamiuation is allayed and the newly formed deposit has con- 

 Bolidated into bone. 



In young horses, especially, a lengthened period of rest without any 

 very active measures is always well worthy of a trial. Their bones and 

 ligaments are weak, and their whole frame is often unequal to the work 

 which man demands of them ; and in veiy many cases nothing more than 

 time and the gradual increase of strength resulting from age, good feed- 

 ing and carefully regulated exercise are needed to give strength and sta- 

 bility to the weaker structures of the frame. 



Some very eminent veterinaiy surgeons thiiik that no time should be 

 lost in attacking the newly-formed bone, and recommend the application 

 of a strong blister of biniodide of mercury at once. 



Whichever treatment may have been adopted, rest, followed by light 

 work for some weeks, is essential. 



If the treatment, which may have been adopted, is not successful, it 

 may be necessarj' to resort to firing — and in this case " Point " firing, 

 which will not leave a scar, may be sufficient. 



609. Spavins which do not cause lameness. 



Spavins which when fully formed do not cause lameness should never 

 be subjected to active treatment. Treatment in such cases, far from 

 being advantageous, may only too probably set up renewed inflammation 

 in the part, and may perhaps produce further growth of bone and 

 eventually lameness. 



610. Spavins cannot he removed. 



A Spavin, when once fully formed, cannot be removed by any remedial 

 agents ; though in common with all abnormal growths, exostoses generally 

 become less as age advances. This process of absorption may to a cer- 

 tain degree be assisted and hastened in the case of newly formed deposits 

 by the application of mild blisters or setons ; but the more important 



20 



