CHAPTER VI. 



LEGS OP THE HORSE, THEIR ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES— CON- 



TINTJED. 



I. CAPUI.ET OR CAPPED HOCK AND ELBOW. 11. FRACTURES. Til. OPEN JOINT. 



IV. BROKEN KNEES. V. KNEE SPRUNG. VI. COCKED ANKLES. VII. 



WINDGALLS. VIII. SHOULDER LAMENESS AND SWENEY. IX. CRAMP 



OF THE MUSCLES OF THE THIGHS. 



I. Capulet or Capped Hock and Elbow. 



The elbows and points of the hot-ks fire liable to injury, giving rise to 

 swellings of the nature of tumors. They are filled with a watery exu- 

 date, slightly tinged with blood. If not emptied and properly treated 

 they become caloused and organized into a solid fibrous mass in the course 

 of a month or so. When this takes place, the callosity on the dlbow 

 becomes very heavy and hangs from the elbow, a very unsightly mass, 

 sometimes as large as a child's head. 



The callosity on the point of the hock never gets so large as on the 

 elbow, but becomes just as hard and unsightly, and is more noticeable 

 being farther from the body. 



Causes. — Bruising is the only cause. It is usually long continued, 

 hence the gradual dcn^elopment into a hard fibrous tumor. The one on 

 the elbow is caused by laying the point of the ell)ow on the shoe or on 

 the hard floor. Some horses have the habit of pawing the bedding all 

 back before lying down, and letting the elbow come directly on the floor, 

 while others always lie with the elbow on the shoe. Either way of lying, 

 if continued for any length of time, w\\\ bruise these points and a watery 

 exudation is formed, which fills the sack. If not evacuated it increases, 

 and may suppurate and break, or it may become organized and solidify, 

 the walls thicken and the whole become a solid mass. 



CAPPED ELBOW^ OK SHOE BOIL. 



The one on the hock is usually caused by kicking cither in the stall or 

 harness. It is often seen on nervous, high-spirited horses that do not get, 



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