234 NAVIN ON THE HOESE. 



GROGGINESS, OR KNUCKLING. 



This is an affection about which there is considerable divers- 

 ity of opinion. The shank-bone seems to project over the 

 parts below it, so much so, in some cases, as to cause the animal 

 to walk almost on his toes, and there is a peculiar tottering of 

 the whole hind-leg. It generally occurs in old and overworked 

 horses. Every joint of the foot has been referred to as the 

 seat of this difficulty. It has also been attributed to ulcers in 

 the joints, from the fact that these have been found on dis- 

 section of the feet of horses aff'ected with it, but I think they 

 have been a consequent or result, rather than a cause, of 

 grogginess. I think the cause of the difficulty is the con- 

 traction of the ligaments and tendons at the back of the 

 jgints of the leg and foot. 



Treatment. — Treatment can be of but little value in this 

 difficulty, as the horse may be regarded quite worn out when 

 it occurs. The repeated aj)plication of blisters to the parts 

 just above the foot, is the only means likely to accomplish any 

 good. First apply a blister on one side of the pastern, and 

 after it is well, apply it to the other side, and then back to the 

 first place again. By thus changing the place of the blister a 

 number of times, some good may be eff^ected. It must be 

 borne in mind that, in no case, must a blister extend clear 

 around the leg. The horse under treatment must not 

 be worked. 



DISLOCATION OF JOINTS. 



The joints of the horse arc so firmly bound by ligaments, 

 and so strongly grooved together, that they are seldom j^ut out 

 of place, or dislocated. But dislocations do sometimes occur, 

 and many of them admit of successful treatment. But in 



