PECULIAE TO HORSES. ^ 93 



versal, and this may be owing to the diiforencc in our roads, which, 

 contemplated as a whole, are more easy for travel, than those of Eng- 

 land. Still we have enough cases of this disease among American 

 horses, to excite our attention. 



Does Splent constitute unsound^iess ? I tliink not ; because it is 

 seldom associated with perceptible lameness, and so long as the 

 horse can perform the duties of an ordinary horse, he is sound to all 

 intents and purposes. I never knew lameness to arise from this dis- 

 ease. Should Splent, however, extend in an upward direction, and 

 involve the knee bones, it must then occasion lameness. 



The author just quoted sustains this opinion. He remarks: 

 "There is an old notion very prevalent among unprofessional 

 people, that splent often lames horses; and to the groom who thinks 

 80, or to the veterinary surgeon, who previils upon himself to believe 

 so, such a doctrine is often very acceptable and opportune, inasmuch 

 as it serves to help him out of any embarrassment he may feel, to 

 say for certain, where the horses' lameness is located. Young prac- 

 titioners ought to be extremely wary how they pronounce a horse 

 lame from Splent. They must never venture to do so, without un- 

 questionable evidence that such is really the case. 



Teeatment of Splent. — When the Splent first makes its appear- 

 ance, our object should be to lessen inflammatory action, and thus 

 limit its development. Supposing it to arise from strain or overwork, 

 rest, cold water, refrigerating lotions, and bandage, are the most 

 rational means. Should it really occasion lameness, no bettercourse 

 can be pursued ; therefore, we are justified in resorting to it. 



If the tumor becomes very large, so as to be, not only an eye-sore, 

 but also interfere with the action of the limb, an operation must 

 be resorted to, which can only be performed by a medical man. But 

 the reader must bear in mind that Splent cannot be cured ; yet the 

 horse may be relieved of the lameness. 



SPAVIN — ITS NATURE, CAUSE, SYMPTOMS AND 

 TREATMENT. 



There is a sort of irregular, or incomplete spavin, which may exist 

 ■without accompanying lameness. It is found just beneath the bones 

 composing the hock, in the form of a knotty tumor, technically called 

 exostosis ; in common language, a '■'■jach.'''' In such case the mech- 

 anism of the joint is not involved, hence, absence of lameness. Biit 

 the animal may from overwork, or sprain, become lame in a joint re- 

 mote from this; the owner or attendant not possessing the requisite 

 skill to discover the precise seat, finds a tumor at the point indicated, 

 and immediately pronounces the horse spavined, and this serves as 

 an excuse for adding to the poor brute's sufferings the torture of fire ; 

 during the rest which necessarily follows the application of the same, 

 the original lameness disappears, and this furnishes an illustration of 

 one of the boasted cures of spavin, which disease in reality never 

 existed. 



Nature of Spayin. — In order to comprehend this, the reader 



