56 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Cause. The horse, when lying, rests the point of the 

 elbow upon the heels of his front shoe. It is a symptom 

 of disease of the leg, preventing the animal from properly 

 flexing or bending the leg proper upon its thigh or arm. 

 Hence, the elbow rests upon the foot. 



Prevention. Remove whatever disease may be in the leg, 

 and place a pad of leather, or of coarse, heavy cloth, over 

 the back part of the foot. Pads are made by harness 

 makers. 



Treatment. Make an incision with a sharp knife through 

 the skin, over the centre of the swelling, and carefully dis- 

 sect the cyst from its attachments. This can be done Avith 

 the fingers and a blunt piece of wood, flattened at its point 

 like a butter knife, and no sharper. If the operator be 

 timid, and think he cannot cut the cyst out, open it, and 

 let out the matter, and inject, once per day, a little tincture 

 of iodine, to kill the walls of the cyst, so that it will not 

 fill again. (See Medicines.) A knife is only wanted to 

 cut the skin. After the tumor is taken out, treat the part 

 as a simple wound, by keeping it clean, and applying a 

 solution of zinc, or blue stone. 



Capped Hock. — This is a soft swelling on the point 

 of the hock-joint. 



Causes. Kicking in the stable or in harness, lying upon 

 stone-paved stalls, and from being kicked by another horse. 



Treatment. Apply cold water cloths to the part for a few 

 days, taking them off" at night. After the heat and tender- 

 ness have subsided, apply, with rubbing, once every fifth 

 dav, for three times, if it be necessarv, an ointment com- 

 posed of one drachm of iodide of mercury ; and hog's lard, 

 one ounce. ^lix. 



Carditis. — This is applied to disease of the heart. Heart 



