150 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



In a hock which is well formed, curb may result from some very 

 violent exertion which causes undue strain to be thrown upon the 

 calcaneo-metatarsal ligament. Thus, for instance, if whilst jumping 

 when the fore part of the body is raised the animal slips and is thrown 

 back on its haunches, great tension is inevitably thrown upon the ligaments 

 mentioned. 



Regarding treatment, precautionary measures may be taken in the 

 case of an animal with defective conformation of the hocks, which renders 

 them particularly predisposed to curb formation, for if the heels of the 

 shoes of such an animal be raised and the toes lowered this causes a decrease 

 in the " tibio-metatarsal angle " when the foot rests on the ground, and 

 consequently diminishes the amount of work required to be performed by 

 the gastrocnemius muscle to bring about the necessary degree of extension 

 of the hock. 



Similarly, in recent cases of curb presenting acute inflammatory 

 symptoms, the tension on the damaged ligament is eased and the pain 

 relieved if the animal be shod temporarily with high-heeled shoes. In 

 these cases, also, cold applications tend to reduce the swelling, and these 

 should be followed by counter-irritation either in the form of a blister or 

 by line-firing the part. 



Treatment is quite unnecessary, and, in fact, practically useless, in old 

 and chronic curbs which do not cause lameness. 



Occasionally we get an exostosis near the seat of curb as an extension 

 of a spavin, when the treatment should be similar to that adopted for 

 spavin in the usual seat (see chapter on " Bones, Fractures, and 

 Exostoses "). 



