304 CHAPTER 88. 



607. Treatment. 



The nature of the primary disease, namely irritation and inflammation 

 in some portion of the structure of the hock, caused by some undue con- 

 cussion or pressure or sprain, gives us at once the clue to its treatment in 

 the early stage, namely rest. Rest is the great essential. Cold applica- 

 tions or fomentations are also useful in reducing the inflammatory action. 



Some Veterinary surgeons recommend the application of a three- 

 quarter shoe, which they think takes much of the weight and concussion 

 off the part affected. Others prefer a shoe raised on the inside heel, on 

 the plea that it shifts the weight from the inner to the outside quarter. 

 Probably the greatest ease and relief is gained by removing the shoes 

 altogether. 



It is a common practice to raise the bed behind, with the view of 

 throwing the weight off the hind on to the fore quarters. The advantage 

 of this practice is very questionable, as the position produced by it has a 

 tendency to bring into closer contact, and thereby cause greater pressure 

 at the seat of the disease, namely the anterior portions of the weight- 

 bearing bones. The bed should, we think, be made perfectly level, 

 though in order to counteract the usual slope of the stall to the rear, it 

 will probably require to be made considerably thicker behind than before. 



If the work is continued during the formation of a spavin, the inflam- 

 mation will greatly increase, and an enormous deposit of bone may be the 

 result. Yet, though rest is essential, some slight exercise, such as that 

 which a horse will give himself in a loose box, is beneficial lest the parts 

 should become stiffened by disuse, as well as from the deposit of bone. 



If the inflammatory action does not subside after a time under the 

 above simple treatment, and the horse still continues lame, it will be 

 necessary to have recourse to other remedial agents, such as blisters, 

 setons, or firing. 



That these agents act beneficially in some cases is beyond question; 

 but whether they produce their effect by irritation or otherwise is a 

 matter in dispute among Veterinarians. 



Some think that they act by bringing more blood to the part, or in 

 other words by artificially exciting increased inflammation, and that they 

 thereby hasten the consolidation of the new deposit into bone. Others 

 believe that their beneficial effect is due to decrease in the inflammation 

 already existing in the periosteum and bone, by reason of the irritation 

 excited in the skin by these agents. They believe that by this so-called 

 counter-irritation the growth of the bony deposit is checked and limited, 

 and that the parts are thereby sooner restored to their normal condition. 

 More detailed information regarding the action of Irritants will be found 

 in Chapter 19, Artificial Inflammation as a Curative Agent. 



As soon as the process of the deposition is completed, whether on the 

 one hand by hastening its full formation, or on the other by checking 

 and limiting the action the inflammation and pain, which accompanied 

 the formation of the exostosis will disappear. The horse will then be 

 lame or sound according to the position and amount of the new deposit. 



