CONDITION OF HUNTERS RESUMED 307 



to bone-spavin on a horse required for fast work, 

 than the same on a cart-horse. 



Age has also an important bearing when estimating 

 future probabilities. The Editor would never dream 

 of passing a horse having bone-spavin as sound, 

 irrespective of age, work, breed, etc. The client 

 must take the risk if he decides to purchase. 



The chief difficulty in determining the existence 

 or non-existence of bone-spavin is when both hocks 

 are enlarged at the seat of spavin, more especially 

 if the animal has large, clumsy hocks. Even expert 

 opinions differ under such circumstances as these, 

 so that it is not very likely that the non-professional 

 will be able to satisfy himself in a case of this kind. 



The term occult (hidden) spavin-lameness is used 

 when it is believed that there is a degree of inflamma- 

 tion at work, chiefly confining itself to the smaller 

 bones of the hock joint, without leaving the residue 

 of the inflammation at the usual seat of spavin. 



A bog-spavin — as the names implies — is a puffy con- 

 dition of the whole hock. It is a misnomer to employ 

 the suflix " spavin " to a hock in this condition. 



Again, the term " blood-spavin" is used when the 

 vein passing over the front face of hock appears more 

 prominent than usual. Such is not the slightest 

 detriment to a horse, and it is wrong for any man to 

 reject a horse for such, in fact were I the seller, I 

 should oppose such opinion, and very stoutly too. 



Hereditary predisposition has, it is believed, some- 

 thing to do with the appearance of bone-spavin. 



Perhaps I may attribute my not having suffered 



