252 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



tioner by remaining, as they frequently do, an eyesore on the top of 

 the hock ; not interfering, it is true, with the work of the horse, but 

 fixing upon him the stigma of what, in human estimation, is a most 

 unreliable and objectionable reputation, to wit, that of being an 

 habitual kicker, and, worse than all, one that kicks when he receives 

 ibis provender. 



The maxim that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of 

 cure fits the present case very neatly. A horse whose hocks have a 

 somewhat puffy look and whose skin on the front of the hock is loose 

 and flabby, justly subjects himself to a suspicion of his addictedness 

 to this bad habit. But he may easily be either convicted or exon- 

 erated a little watching will soon establish the truth. If, then, the 

 verdict is one of conviction, precautions should be immediately 

 adopted against a continuance of the evil. The padding of the sides 

 of the stall with straw mats or mattresses and covering the posts with 

 similar material, in such a manner that no hard surface shall be 

 exposed with which to come in contact, will reduce the evil to its 

 minimum. He may jar his frame when he kicks, but even then 

 there will be less force in the concussion than if it impinged upon 

 the solid plank, and cuts and abrasions can not be inflicted by a 

 properly made cushion. Hobbles are also rightly recommended with 

 a view to the required restraint of motion, so applied as to secure the 

 leg with which the kicking is performed, or even both hind legs, in 

 such a manner as shall not interfere with the movements of lying 

 down and rising again and yet preventing that of kicking backward. 

 Boots similar in pattern to those which are used for the prevention 

 of shoe boil are also prescribed. These are placed above the hock 

 and retained by straps tightly fastened. But we apprehend that the 

 difficulty of retaining them in the proper place without the danger 

 of chafing from the tightness of the straps might form an objection 

 to their use. Notwithstanding all precautions, hocks will be capped 

 in the future as in the past, and the study of their treatment will 

 always be in order. 



The mode of dealing with them will, of course, be greatly in- 

 fluenced by the condition of the parts. When the inflammation is 

 excessive and the swelling large, hot, and painful to the touch, the 

 application of warm water will be very beneficial. The leg should be 

 well fomented several times a day, for from fifteen to twenty minutes 

 each time, a strong decoction of marsh-mallow leaves being added to 

 the water, and after each application swathed with flannel bandages 

 soaked in the same warm mixture. A few days of this treatment will 

 usually effect a resolution of the inflammation, if not complete, at 

 least sufficiently so to disclose the correct outlines of the hygroma and 

 exhibit its peculiar and specific symptoms. The expediency of its 

 removal and the method of accomplishing it are then to be consid- 

 ered, with the question of opening it to give exit to^its contents. If 

 the fluid is of a purulent character the indication is in favor of its 

 immediate discharge no time should be lost, and it should be by 

 means of a small opening made with a narrow bistoury. If, how- 

 ever, the fluid is a serosity, we prefer to remove it by punctures with 



