THE TREATMENT OF SPAVIN. 75 



tendon of the flexor metatarsi by the old open method has been so 

 successful that certain operators declare it superior to firing. I usually 

 combine these two methods, first piercing the exostosis with a finely 

 pointed Paquelin cautery, or with the end of a medium-sized knitting- 

 needle brought to a bright red, and afterwards making twenty, thirty, 

 or forty similar points, extending a little beyond the area of the swell- 

 ing. In large or old-standing spavins I apply the cautery twice, or 

 sometimes three times, in each puncture. Following this I simply 

 divide the tendon of the flexor metatarsi, or I excise a short portion. 



The numerous instances I have recorded during the last few years 

 show that this treatment removes spavin lameness in about 30 per 

 cent, of cases. I do not believe that any other direct treatment is so 

 efficient against osteo-arthritis of the hock. The only objection I can 

 make to it is that it leaves a more or less apparent mark. 



Penetrating firing, nowadays used by a large number of practitioners, 

 produces much more intense immediate effects and much better results 

 than the old superficial firing, and does not necessitate nearly so long 

 rest. The time for operation can be shortened. Instead of covering 

 the entire surface with closely placed points, three to six may be used, 

 according to the size of the bony tumour ; and these can be applied 

 after placing a twitch on the upper lip, and lifting one of the fore-feet, 

 i. c. without casting the animal. Frohner, who has treated fifty-nine 

 spavins in this way, states he had very good results last year. You see 

 the advantages of this method : it avoids the necessity for casting the 

 animal and saves a great deal of time, for the operation only lasts a 

 few minutes. It is true that penetrating firing of the hock is some- 

 times followed by arthritis, but this complication has become excep- 

 tionally rare since the introduction of very finely pointed cauteries. It 

 can more certainly be avoided by operating with antiseptic precautions. 

 The hair is cut, and the skin shaven over the entire surface of the bony 

 swelling. The field of operation is disinfected, firing performed, and 

 the cauterised surface covered with iodoform collodion. 



Periosteotomy, when practised aseptically, according to Peters' 

 direction, has the advantage over the preceding of leaving no mark. 

 A narrow transverse incision is made at the base of the swelling, 

 opposite its vertical axis, and the exostosis cut into at several points, 

 using a button-pointed bistoury with a convex cutting edge. But at 

 present I have not sufficient personal experience of this operation to 

 deliver an opinion concerning it. Those authors who have written on 

 the subject vary greatly in opinion regarding it ; but it has given 

 successes and might prove useful, especially in valuable horses. 



