194 Common Diseases of the Horse 



narrow hock, but it will not stand strain or wear, and the same 

 applies in a less degree to the moderately broad and short hock. 

 " Sickle hock " is a term applied to a condition where the limb 

 from the thigh downwards describes a curve, so that the point is 

 usually too far behind the animal. "Cow hock" is a similar 

 condition with the angle of the hock sharper than ordinarily, the 

 points being turned inwards and the cannon bone running out- 

 wardly and slightly forward. Literally speaking, the hocks are 

 turned in and the toes out. These latter conditions also favour 

 the production of spavin. The exciting causes are concussion, 

 pressure, and sprain. These are produced by overwork, a sharp 

 pull up, a false step at starting, jumping, rearing, and many other 

 causes. 



Symptoms. — Spavin is diagnosed by passing the hand over the 

 lower inside portion of the hock, when an undue prominence will 

 be encountered, which if only present in one limb must be viewed 

 with grave suspicion. If this prominence exists in both limbs, 

 however, and on being put through his paces the horse moves 

 well, and especially if five years of age, little fear need be enter- 

 tained that unsoundness exists. If, on the other hand, the con- 

 dition described is found in one limb only and the hocks are not 

 a pair, it is always wise to consider the animal unsound. Odd- 

 hocked horses are among the most dangerous purchases, as any 

 horseman of experience can testify. 



Another method of diagnosis is to stand a few paces in front of 

 the animal, stoop down and look between the fore legs, when fre- 

 quently the difference in size will be seen. 



In examining an animal for spavin, particularly when dealing 

 with a stranger, care must be exercised where coarse hocks exist, 

 as it is no uncommon thing for the unscrupulous dealer to tap the 

 other with some instrument until it attains the size of its fellow. 

 In this case the latter will be soft and fluctuating, while the former 

 will be hard and bony. Sooner or later spavin produces lameness, 

 which in many instances is characterized at the commencement by 

 being intermittent in character. 



An animal will start slightly lame ; this soon wears off. Upon 

 being pulled up, and after standing a little while, it will again show 

 lameness. Such an animal will also be noticed to turn over lame 

 in the stall. If now the hock is examined a slight swelling will 

 probably be discovered, together with some amount of heat. The 

 animal may then be taken out of the stable, the leg lifted up to the 

 belly and held there for a couple of minutes, when on being asked 

 to move it will likely enough be very lame, and if the disease is of 



