130 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



it every night for two weeks. If in the winter, use an 

 on extra blanket. If in summer, give cut grass to cat. 



Hip-joint Disease. — Happily, this is a very rare dis- 

 ease in horses, and does not make its appearance so soon as 

 in man. It is always the result of accident or injury, and 

 is a joint affection — not of the muscles, because the mass of 

 muscles are so very great over the hip, that it is not an 

 easy matter to sprain them. I speak of this here, because 

 among horsemen it is a great bug-bear, often occurring 

 in their ideas ; whereas, in ninety-nine cases out of a hun- 

 dred of their so-called hip and wlmd bone disease, the lame- 

 ness will be found in the hock-joint. Why do they jump 

 at the conclusion that the lameness is in the hip ? Because 

 in every movement of the hock-joint, the vibration or hitch 

 is more distinctly seen by the altered action of the muscles of 

 the hip, as when the hock-joint moves but partially, and not 

 completely, it is not so readily seen at the hock as at the 

 hip. Hence, this is but the old adage, cause and effect; 

 in this case the horseman has them reversed. (See Spavin.) 



Symptoms. LoAvness or falling in of the hip ; a peculiar 

 manner of moving, not indicating inability as is seen in 

 fracture of the pelvis bone, but of great pain and difficulty ; 

 not yielding or bending low down on that quarter when 

 the horse takes a step. The leg appears shorter, and is 

 placed, w^hcn standmg, slightly under the body, and not 

 doubled up, or standing upon the toe as is seen in cases of 

 hock-joint disease. 



Treatment. Absolute and entire rest for a few weeks. 

 The application of cold water cloths over the hip, taking 

 them off at night, and applying them in the morning again. 

 This will have to be kept up for a week, at least, so that 

 all heat and tenderness will be removed before any irritant 



