212 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



stranger when he would not at the owner or groom. Stand 

 near the shoulder and look at the hock, or look through be- 

 tween the fore-legs ; and if there is any abnormal enlarge- 

 ment or irregularity of outline, difference in size, etc., as a 

 rule it will be readily detected. A view of the hock should 

 also be taken from the other side, as well as from behind the 

 animal. Besides the above, a manual examination should be 

 made, by passing the hand down over the hock, examining 

 carefully for any abnormal enlargement ; at the same time 

 note the presence or absence of heat in the part — as a rule, 

 considerable heat is present in connection with high spavin, 

 and often there is no perceptible enlargement. Pressure over 

 the parts may elicit some manifestation of pain or uneasiness. 

 If there is an exostosis of considerable size, it will be 

 detected without any difficulty. On observing the animal 

 as he stands quietly in the stable, it is noticed that 

 he favours the affected limb, standing with it flexed, etc. 

 The lameness of spavin is characteristic. On causing the 

 animal to move over in the stall, to move about from side 

 to side, etc., it is noticed that he drops on the affected 

 limb ; but on being made to walk or trot, it is noticed that 

 he drops on the sound limb. When first brought out, after 

 standing all night — particularly if the animal has been sub- 

 jected to a severe or tiring drive the day before — it is 

 observed that the animal is stiff and lame ; but when driven 

 half a mile or so the lameness disapj^ears or decreases in 

 severity, to use a common expression — 'he warms out of it. 

 This is characteristic of joint affections. • On trotting, there is 

 a peculiar rising and falling of the croup ; and in cases of long- 

 standing there will be atro23hy of the muscles of the haunch, 

 which should not mislead the practitioner, or cause him to think 

 the lameness is in the hip, etc. The animal also goes upon 

 the toe, to a certain extent, when suffering from spavin ; and 

 during progression the hock is not flexed as freely as it 



