CUKB. 205 



ness. The horse steps quicker with the affected limb than with 

 the sound one, which is doubtless occasioned by the obstruction 

 the tumor causes when the other leg is forward ; he steps fur- 

 ther with the unsound than the sound one. 



Causes. — Hereditary influence is generally conceded to have 

 something to do in giving rise to curb. Certainly, if a horse 

 inherits a natural weakness of the tendons and ligaments of 

 the parts which are the seat of the difficulty, he will be pecu- 

 liarly liable to "throw out curb." 



Horses with a hough of that peculiar shape known as "cozy- 

 liouglied^' in which the hough sets in like that of the cow, are 

 very liable to curb. The reason is very obvious, for the ten- 

 don, instead of working in a straight line through the ligament, 

 works strongly against one side of it. Young horses are more 

 liable to curb than older ones, for their muscles and ligaments, 

 not being so solid, are not so well calculated to resist injury or 

 violence. 



The immediate causes of curb are overexertion, sudden and 

 violent action, in such a way as to bruise the sheath of the 

 tendon where it passes through the jing-like ligament, or the 

 lining membrane of the ligament itself, or kicks or blows on the 

 same parts. Whatever may be the injury producing it, inflam- 

 mation is excited in the parts injured, which goes on to one of its 

 peculiar terminations, the throwing out from the inflamed part a 

 thick liquid, called coagulahle Ii/mjjh, but which soon commences 

 to become harder and harder, until it becomes of an almost gristly 

 character, as felt in a curb of long standing. It does not present 

 the proper character of a tumor, but an enlargement or great 

 thickening of the membrane which is the seat of the disease. 



Treatment — In treating curb, the object, in the early stage, 

 is to reduce the inflammation and prevent the formation of the 

 callous enlargement. For this purpose there can be no better 

 remedy used than the following : 



Take — Muriate of ammonia 2 ounces. 



Water 1 quart. 



Tincture of poison hemlock 4 ounces. 



