THE nORSE. 87 



tendons, and between the tendons and other parts, are little bags con- 

 taining a mucous substance to enable the tendons to slide over each 

 other without friction, and to move easily on the neighboring parts. 

 From violent exercise these vessels arc liable to enlarge. Windgalls and 

 thoronghpins are instances of this. There is one of them on the inside 

 of the hock at its bending. This sometimes becomes considerably in- 

 creased in size, and the enlargement is called a bog-spavin. A vein 

 passes over the bag, which is pressed between the enlargement and the 

 skin, and the passage of the blood through it is impeded; the vein is 

 consequently distended by the accumulated blood, and the distension 

 reaches from this bag as low down as the next valve. This is called 

 blood-spavin. Blood-spavin, then, is the consequence of bog-spavin. It 

 very rarely occurs, and is, in the majority of instances, confounded with 

 bog-spavin. 



Blood-spavin does not always cause lameness, except the horse is very 

 hard-worked ; but this, as well as bog-spavin, constitutes unsoundness, 

 and materially lessens the value of the horse. The proper treatment is, 

 to endeavor to promote the absorption of the contents of the bag. This 

 may be attempted by pressure long applied. A bandage may be con- 

 trived to take in the whole of the hock, except its point; and a com- 

 press made of folded linen being placed on the bog-spavin, may confine 

 the principal pressure to that part. It is, however, very difficult to adapt 

 a bandage to a joint which admits of such extensive motion ; therefore 

 most practitioners apply two or three successive blisters over the en- 

 largement, wlien it usually disappears. Unfortunately, however, it re- 

 turns if any extraordinary exertion is required from the horse. 



Strangles-* — This is a disease principally incident to young horses — 

 usually appearing between the fourth and fifth year, and oftener in the 

 spring than in any other part of the year. It is preceded by cough, 

 and can at first scarcely be distinguished from common cough, except 

 that there is more discharge from the nostril, of a yellowish color, 

 mixed with pus, and generally without smell. There is likewise a con- 

 siderable discharge of ropy fluid from the mouth, and greater swelling 

 than usual under the throat. This swelling increases with uncertain 

 rapidity, accompanied by some fever and disinclination to eat, partly 

 arising from the fever, but more from the pain which the animal feels 

 in the act of mastication. There is considerable thirst, but after a 

 gulp or two the horse ceases to drink, yet is evidently desirous of con- 

 tinuing his draught. In the attempt to swallow, and sometimes when 

 not drinking, a convulsive cough comes on, which almost threatens to 

 suffocate the animal — and thence, probably the name of the disease. 



The tumor is under the jaw, and about the center of the channel. It 

 soon fills the whole of the space, and is evidently one uniform body, 

 and may thus be distinguished from glanders, or the enlarged glands of 

 catarrh. In a few days it becomes more prominent and soft, and evi- 

 dently contains a fluid. This rapidly increases ; the tumor bursts, and a 

 great quantity of pus is discharged. As soon as the tumor has broken 

 the cough subsides, and the hoi'se speedily mends, although some degree 



* Usually termed ^^ Horse disiemper^^ in, the United States. 



