SPAVIN. 213 



should be, and there seems to be a slight difficulty in flexing 

 it. The practitioner or an assistant should flex the joint, 

 and immediately trot the animal out, when, as a rule, if 

 spavin be present, he will show greater lameness than before. 

 Every practitioner should famiharize himself with sound 

 and unsound hocks as much as possible, such knowledge 

 being very essential to a correct diagnosis. On being called 

 to a case of lameness, and finding an enlargement on the 

 hock-joint, the practitioner should not jump at the con- 

 clusion that the lameness is due to spavin, as it may be due 

 to the presence of a nail in the foot, etc. ; hence in all cases 

 it is advisable to make a searching examination of every 

 part of the limb, and if nothing abnormal is found in con- 

 nection with any part except the hock, the negative evidence 

 thus obtained will be found of great value in diagnosing the 

 case. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis should be always guarded. A 

 careful examination should in every case be made, and if it is 

 a low spavin, in a well-formed hock, and there is no great 

 lameness, the patient not more than seven or eight years of 

 age, and other conditions favourable, recovery may be ex- 

 pected ; but if it is found to be a high spavin, occurring in a 

 badly-formed hock, and the animal has been lame for months, 

 it will be very tedious, and difficult to treat successfully. 

 Spavin in every form constitutes an unsoundness. A horse 

 may, however, do any reasonable amount of work without 

 the spavin hurting him or seeming to cause any great incon- 

 venience. Properly speaking, a cure cannot be effected, as 

 the limb is never restored to its original condition after 

 having been attacked by spavin ; but when a cure is spoken 

 of, it is meant that the severe lameness is relieved, and all 

 irritation in connection with the hock-joint ceases ; and to 

 attain these results all treatment is directed. 



Treatment. — The animal is to be given a long rest ; remove 



