302 THE HORSE. 



coronet, and heel, the part feeling unnaturally hard and irregu- 

 lar or lumpy. If recent, there is generally increased heat on 

 careful examination with the hand ; but in old standing eases 

 there is nothing of the kind to be detected. Lameness is not 

 always present, but if the horse is rattled over hard ground, he 

 will be more likely to show the effects on the next day, by going 

 short and sore, than if he were free from this disease. 



The treatment should be confined to recent cases, for in old 

 standing ones, unless lameness shows itself, it is better to avoid 

 any interference. A seton, with rest, has sometimes proved very 

 efficacious, even in confirmed ossification, and repeated dressings 

 with the biniodide of mercury ointment, will, in those cases where 

 the inflammation does not run very high, afford the Jest chance 

 of causing the absorption of some of the bone, for a complete cui'e 

 is never effected. When there is much heat in the part, bleeding 

 from the foot may be adopted, and afterwards, the application of 

 cloths dipped in cold water, with the addition of a glass of tincture 

 of arnica to quart of water. In confirmed cases, where the parts 

 have become callous, a leather sole to the shoe will take off the 

 vibration, and should be used during the summer season. Scari- 

 fication of the skin covering the enlargement with a lancet, encour- 

 aging the bleeding by warm water, and followed by the use of 

 cold water as soon as the bleeding has ceased, will sometimes do 

 wonders in recent cases. The scarification should be repeated at 

 intervals of five or six days, taking care to avoid injury to the 

 coronary substance near the hoofs, which is sometimes followed 

 by troublesome sores. 



BONE SPAVIN 

 This disease, so frequently the cause of lameness in those 

 horses which use their hocks severely (as for example race-horses, 

 hunters, carriage-horses, and more particularly cart-horses), con- 

 sists in exostosis from the adjacent external surfaces of the tarsal 

 bones, always showing itself at the inner side of the hock joint, 

 on the scaphoid and cuneiform bones, and extending to the head of 

 the internal small metatarsal bone. As in the case of splint, the 

 occurrence of exostosis on the internal rather than on the external 

 side of the hock has been accounted for by the supposition that 

 increased weight is thrown upon the internal small metatarsal bone, 

 from the turning up of the outer heel of the shoe, which is the 

 common practice of smiths. It appears to me, however, that the 

 contrary is the case, and that though more stress is laid upon the 

 foot on that side, there is less weight on the inner side of the hock, 

 which has a tendency to spring open in that direction. This will 

 cause a strain upon the ligaments connecting the tarsal bones, and 

 nature coming to their aid throws out bone, which ultimately .«ub- 



