two weeks. If in the winter, use an extra blanket. If in summer, 

 give cut grass to eat. 



Hip-joint Disease. — Happily, this is a very rare disease in 

 horses, and does not make its appearance so soon as in man. It 

 is always the result of accident or injury, and is a joint affection— 

 not of the muscles, because the mass of muscles are so very great 

 over the hip, that it is not an easy matter to sprain them. I speak 

 of this here, because among horsemen it is a great bug-bear, often 

 occurring in their ideas ; whereas in ninety-nine cases out of a 

 hundred of their so-called hip and whirl bone disease, the lameness 

 will be found in the hock-joint. Why do they jump at the con- 

 clusion that the lameness is in the hip ? Because in every move- 

 ment of the hock-joint, the vibration or hitch is more distinctly 

 seen by the altered action of the muscles of the hip, as when the 

 hock-joint moves but partially, and not completely, it is not so 

 readily seen at the hock as at the hip. Hence, this is but the old 

 adage, cause and effect ; in this case the horseman has them re- 

 versed. (See Spavin.) 



Symptoms. Lowness or falling in of the hip ; a peculiar manner 

 of moving, not indicating inability as is seen in fracture of the 

 pelvis bone, but of great pain and difficulty ; not yielding or bend- 

 ing low down on that quarter when the horse takes a step. The 

 leg appears shorter, and is placed, when standing, slightly under 

 the body, and not doubled up, or standing upon the toe as is seen 

 in cases of hock-joint disease. 



Treoiment Absolute and entire rest for a few weeks. The ap 

 plication of cold water cloths over the hip, taking them off at 

 night, and applying them in the morning again. This will hav© 

 to be kept up for a week, at least, so that all heat and tenderness 

 will be removed before any irritant can be used to the parts. 

 (Never apply hot liniments to a part already too hot and painful.) 

 Then apply by rubbing with the hand over the parts, every second 

 day, the following : Oil of turpentine, one ounce ; oil of cloves, two 

 ounces ; creosote, one ounce. Mix. This will not only act as an 

 irritant, but as a powerful sedative to the nerves of the parts, cans* 

 ing relief from pain, so that the animal can be made useful. 



Hock, The. — This is an important joint or part of the horse, 

 and is the seat of many diseases, causing lameness. In the 



