116 THE HORSE. 



The enlargement occurs only when the osseous de- 

 posit commences at the surface, or extends itself out- 

 wards in that direction, after having begun internally. 

 I have a most interesting specimen of hock-joint dis- 

 ease in my possession. It was taken from a horse 

 which, when aHve, was decidedly and unequivocally 

 lame in the hind-leg, although there was nothing to be 

 seen to account for the disease. The joint looked and 

 felt quite smooth. I have preserved all the bones of 

 the hock. They are as regular and smooth as they 

 ought to be externally ; but the small bones, at the 

 seat of spavin, are finnly and permanently united, 

 by a very evident bony deposit, at different points on 

 their internal approximating surfaces. They are 

 thoroughly anchylosed. The inflammation connected 

 with this state of matters, and the union of the bones, 

 were quite sufficient to account for the lameness and 

 stiffness of the leg ; in fact, the horse, to all intents 

 and purposes, was spavined, although there was not 

 the slightest external enlargement to be observed either 

 before or after death. 



In general, spavin arises from a defective formation 

 of the joint ; but this is not by any means uniformly 

 the case. I am certain some horses possess a scro- 

 fulous constitution, and therefore by natm-e are prone 

 to diseases of the bones and joints. In such instances, 

 if my opinion be well founded, spavins will frequently 

 occiu', no matter how perfect the shape and s,\z.q of the 



