45 



whirl bone joint, and tlic mistake is unfortu- 

 nately seldom discovered until the spavin is 

 conlirmed beyond the power of removal. Never- 

 theless, lameness does not alwa3's attend the 

 existence of a spavin, and in those instances 

 no defect is perceptible, except a trilling stiif- 

 ness in the joint, not to be detected except by 

 very close observation. 



In some horses the lateral projections of the 

 hough joint arc naturally larger and more pro- 

 minent than in others. An appearance of this 

 kind should be distinguished from a spavin, 

 and this may be ascertained by oljscrving whe- 

 ther both hocks are alike, in which case the 

 projection arises from the natural growth of the 

 part, and not from disease. Natui'al projec- 

 tions of this description, however, are ne^•er 

 confined to the hough joint only, for the same 

 bold and firm articulation may be perceived in 

 all the other joints of the same animal. 



A bone spavin most generally takes place 

 on the inside of the hock, l;ut it sometimes 

 occurs on the outside, and is equally productive 

 of lameness. 



The foregoing causes of lameness arise from 

 diseases in the bones. Other causes, however, 

 of lameness are to be found in the ligamentary 

 or tendinous parts of the limjj. 



These may be comprised under the following 

 heads, viz. 



