102 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



good practice, in many cases, to take a look at the foot, for I have known 

 blisters applied to the hock when the trouble was in the foot. 



Treatment. -It is difficult to say whether you can cure or not; you 

 cannot restore the limb to its natural condition : so far it is incurable, 

 nevertheless if the animal can be got to go sound it is what we call a 

 cure. We cannot take off a spavin, but hydrochloric acid will take off 

 the enlargement to a certain extent, and it acts beneficially as a counter 

 irritant. The best treatment is to give rest, and if the feet are out of 

 shape bring them into shape the best you can. Some recommend a cer- 

 tain kind of shoe— a high heeled — but I think it best without any shoe. 

 Keep in a box or stall in preference to turning on pasture. Those who 

 have become proficient in treating spavin have become so by devising 

 means to keep the articulation quiet. If there is acute inflammatory 

 action use hot and cold applications, and follow by counter irritation 

 with mercury and cantharides, or you may use eupherbium, or the firing 

 iron. If there is an exostosis, and the articulation not much affected, 

 you may use the small bunting iron ; just make one or two points, but 

 not too close together, and blister after a day or two, but not very 

 severely. If the whole articulation is affected, fire clear around the 

 articulation. Seatons are also good. Some object to a blister ; then use 

 a seaton. Some recommend dividing the tendon of the flexor metatarsi, 

 and this might be advisable. Punching was at one time practiced to a 

 great extent ; take a punch and strike it with a mallet. Caustics have 

 also been recommended, but they are hard to control, and are likely to 

 cause extensive sloughing. In examining for soundness you must look 

 to the hock, and if you suspect anything wrong, before giving an opinion, 

 allow him to stand quiet for an hour or two, and notice whether he flexes 

 the limb. Make him stand from side to side, then bring him out and 

 notice his action, and take plenty of time in giving an opinion. If the 

 bones are larger than ordinary, or larger in one hock than the other, it is 

 a little suspicious. 



The peculiarity of the lameness of spavin is dragging the limb to some 

 extent. If trotted, there is a well marked raising and dropping of the 

 haunch, and it takes practice to locate this lameness, and often a person 

 of experience may be mistaken. Walk him back and forth, and when 

 80 doing, watch the haunch rise and fall. The affected limb will be 

 flexed when the animal is standing. Inquire how long the animal has 

 been lame, for it takes some time for wasting to occur in spavin ; but it 

 may occur from severe injury quite quickly. In some cases there may be 

 a thickening of the skin, which looks much like spavin. The 



Treatment consists in a counter irritation in some form or other. In 

 treating, when you have plenty of time, keep the animal quiet for a few 

 days before applying counter irritation ; also get the foot in shape and 

 keep the shoe off in a majority of cases; however, some recommend 

 shoes. The firing iron is generally the most potent ; its action is not 

 only superficial, but extends and involves the bones to a certain extent. 

 Fire entirely around the joint in some cases, and pretty severely, if neces- 

 sary. We do not fire to get rid of the enlargement, but to set up an in- 

 flammatory action and hasten anchylosis. In firing, you may take the 

 strokes in any direction you like, but not too close together, as it might 

 cause sloughing. It is a question whether it is best to apply the blister 

 immediately after firing. The blister will not act so readily as it would 

 after three or four, or even six days. I think it is best to wait ; it has a 

 better effect, I think. But if you only fire one or two lines, then you 

 may blister immediately ; but if you fire extensively, wait some time. 

 If you use the pointed iron, endeavour to insert it right into the exostosis, 



