278 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Certain conformation of limb favours the occurrence of 

 windgalls, a horse with straight, upright pasterns being 

 more likely to suffer than a horse with oblique pasterns. 

 Still it must not be forgotten that while windgalls are more 

 likely to appear in connection with a coarse or badly-formed 

 limb, they are by no means uncommon in limbs other- 

 wise faultless. Take, for instance, a well-formed horse four 

 or five years of age, that has had no work for some time ; 

 drive him for a day or two, or drive him twenty or thirty 

 miles in one day ; the chances are that the next morning, 

 after the animal has rested, there will be observed a puffi- 

 ness or fulness in the region of the fetlock, which very 

 likely will disappear in the course of a few hours, only 

 to return in thirty-six or forty-eight hours, when a well- 

 marked case of windgall becomes established. 



Treatment. — The treatment of windgall often results in 

 failure. Especially is this the case where they are of long 

 standing. Any little irritation, heat, etc., that may exist 

 should be allayed by the free use of warm or cold applica- 

 tions, according to the season of the year. Hand-rubbing is 

 also of great benefit. The Derby bandage may also be 

 applied. In connection with the bandages, soft pads will 

 be found of great use, and should be adjusted in such a 

 manner as to press directly upon the enlargements. Cool- 

 ing and astringent lotions, as white lotion, sal ammoniac, or 

 plumbi acetas in solution, are often useful, after which the 

 repeated application of vesicants will be found of benefit. 

 Ungt. iodi is sometimes useful, but only in very stubborn 

 cases. It takes considerable time to reduce a windgall of 

 long standing, and sometimes it cannot be done at all. 

 Laxatives and diuretics may be administered if thought 

 necessary, and are of undoubted benefit in stubborn cases 

 and as auxiliaries to the local treatment. The animal should 

 be placed in a loose-box and fed moderately. The best time 



