348 CHAPTER 45. 



702. Curb. 



Curb may be a sprain of the ligament which connects the os calois 

 with the cuboid and external metatarsal bones ; or it may be sprain of 

 the broad annular (calcaneo-metatarsal) ligament, which passes over and 

 binds down the tendons in their passage down the back of the hock. 



Curb is easily recognised by a protuberance at the back of the hock 

 about five inches below its upper point (A, Plate 29). The examiner 

 should stand exactly at right angles to the line of the back of the leg, 

 when any deviation, from the perpendicular line cannot fail to be noticed. 

 If he stands more anteriorly, he may mistake the prominence of one of 

 the bones for Curb ; whilst if he stands more to the rear, he may fail 

 to notice the deviation from the straight line. 



Over-bent or " sickle-shaped " hocks, and small hocks, are peculiarly 

 liable to Curb. 



703. Treatment of Curl. 



The treatment is the same as that required for any other sprain. The 

 lameness usually subsides as soon as the inflammation is reduced. The 

 strain of the ligament will be lessened by the application of a high-heeled 

 shoe. 



Strange as it may seem, the patient, if an aged horse, may generally 

 be put to work again in from ten days to three weeks. But when the 

 sprain occurs in a young horse, whose bones and ligaments are not yet 

 fully grown and developed, rest for a lengthened period is always needed. 

 Nature must be allowed time to strengthen and develop those structures, 

 which the occurrence of a sprain, such as a curb, have shown not to be 

 equal to what has been required of them. Unless time is given, the ail- 

 ment will probably recur as soon as the horse is again put to work. 



It is seldom advisable either in an old or young horse to resort to any 

 severe treatment in the first instance ; but if the lameness recurs, as is 

 frequently the case, when the animal is put to work, it will be advisable 

 to apply ointment of biniodide of mercury, or equal parts of iodine and 

 cantharides ointment to the part ; and in some cases ultimately it may be 

 necessary to have recourse to firing in order to produce a permanent cure. 



704. Capped Hock. 



Capped Hock may be simply a serous effusion under the skin at the 

 point of the hock; or the above may be accompanied by thickening of 

 the integuments and inflammation of the bursa, and by deposit of coagu- 

 lable lymph. 



The injury is usually caused by kicking in the stable or in harness. 

 Some horses, however, contrive to injure themselves in the act of lying 

 down or getting up. 



In rare cases the enlargement may arise from rupture of the lateral 

 attachment of the perforatus tendon at the apex of the os calcis. The 

 injury will be recognised by a. flattened appearance of the point of the 



