69 



of lameness and degree of swelling give reason for 

 apprehending that the adhesion is uncommonly exten- 

 sive, let the part be fired previously to blistering. Be 

 careful to keep it up whilst the blister is operating, 

 and subsequently dress with hog's lard ; but do not 

 use any greasy applications previously to the blister- 

 ing, as these tend only to harden the skin, and so ob- 

 struct the perspiration and absorption which promote 

 the cure. 



Making the shoe thin on the out side at the heel 

 relieves the pressure when the horse is worked; the 

 contrary form of shoe is conducive to all diseases of 

 the leg bones. 



CURB. — It is caused by an inflammation in the 

 sheath of the back sinew a little below the point of the 

 hock, where the sheath is attached to the muscle. — 

 Like spavin, curb mostly effects young horses of the 

 cow-hocked built, whose legs stand too much under 

 the body, and which have been worked prematurely 

 hard, as in cases of bone-spavin. Indeed the two 

 diseases bear so much resemblance to each other, in 

 cause and symptoms, except only as to situation, that 

 I feel no difficulty in referring the reader to the pre- 

 ceding page for my description of these only premising 

 that he cannot discover the coming of a curb, by any 

 other means than lameness, and comparing the two 

 legs to each other sidewise, when a diffiised swelling 

 may be seen, but very li'tle heat felt, by reason of the 

 disorder being deep-seated. 



Cure. — It may be effectually removed at first, by 

 blistering, as in case of bone spavin ; but when the 

 disease has lasted a long time, firing must be resorted 

 to with the same precautions as those before recom- 

 mended. Ease may be afforded by adding to the thick- 

 ness of the heels of the shoe. 



SPLENT 



May be looked upon as a disorder of the fore legs, 

 though occurring on the hind one, at times, 



Cause, — Working of young horses before they 

 laave acquired sufficient stamina, or on labor which 

 is much beyond their strength, as in case of spavin, 

 ,curb, &c. 



