DISEASES OF HORSES. 711 



Side-bones. This is a state in which the cartilages of the 



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heel lateral cartilages change from cartilage to bone ossify 

 and also become enlarged. This is more serious in a fast than 

 a heavy horse, as it interferes with traveling ; but it interferes 

 much less with slow work. 



TREATMENT. Cut the lower part of the hoof away just under 

 the cartilages ; bathe, or poultice for a few days ; then blister 

 around the top of the hoof with biniodide of mercury. (See 

 Index for Blistering.) 



Bone-spavin is a bony growth on the lower, inner part 

 of the hock-joint. There are two kinds of spavin. One is on 

 the surface of the joint, and the other is more deeply situated, 

 and is often so hidden that the eye can not detect any enlarge- 

 ment. A blister will generally relieve the former, while it will 

 not relieve the latter. A spavin high up on the joint is much 

 more serious than one low down. 



CAUSES. Breeding colts from spavined parents. Horses with 

 narrow hocks from front back, and having a long point to the 

 hock-joint, are more liable to spavin than those with well-formed 

 hocks. Other causes are : hard, or fast work, especially if 

 worked on hard roads ; a severe sprain ; or an injury to one 

 hind-leg, causing the sound leg to maintain the weight intended 

 for both, often causes it on the sound leg. High heeled shoos 

 sometimes cause it. 



SYMPTOMS. If there is an enlargement on the joint it is 

 easily seen. The lameness is most readily detected when the 

 animal is first brought from the stable, for the lameness often 

 partly or entirely disappears after slight exercise. There are 

 also some cases that show no enlargement whatever, and others 

 that manifest lameness before the enlargement appears. In 

 examining, always compare the two legs; look at them from be- 

 hind, and from between the fore-legs ; stand a little to one side 

 of the horse near his head and look at the leg on that side, then 

 change over and in the same way look at the other leg. Rub 

 the legs with the hand and compare their relative size and 

 shape, and see if there is heat in either leg. Some severe cases 

 affect the entire leg, and cause a wasting of the hip. This last 



