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WlNDGALLS-TIIOllOUGIIPIN— SPAVIN, ITS VARIETIES. 

 WINDGALLS. 



These appear a little above the fetlock, on each side of the back sinews, and 

 consist of small puffy swellings, that occasion no immediate inconvenience 

 but prove that the animal has been strained in his work, unless it has beer, 

 occasioned by his having been put to it too early in life. They might be oc- 

 casioned by the sinus of a tumour, pointing towards the pastern joint, having 

 been cured too harshly, whereby the joint oil issues forth upon their being 

 |.ricked. 



Blistering, and a run in the straw- yard, are the only remedies, though expe- 

 riments are often tried (when it is found necessary to sell the animal) with 

 preparations of muriatic acid, and muriate of ammonia diluted in water. Sa- 

 turate a roller bandage herewith frequently, and partial absorption takes place. 



THOROUGHPIN 



Is of the same nature as the foregoing, arises from the same cause, and is 

 equally devoid of immediate consequence to the animal's going. It consists 

 of a soft flexible swelling on the inside of the hock joint, as well as the out- 

 side, immediately opposite each other ; whence it obtains the name of thorough- 

 pin, being supposed to go through the joint. When one of those tumours is 

 pressed it yields, and the fluid it contains is thereby forced into that on the 

 other side ; when the pressure is removed it immediately returns to the same 

 state as before. 



This disorder has no other effect upon the animal's going, or value, than its 

 appearance amounts to, as it conveys the informationof its having bef.n work- 

 ed too hard, and too early in life, as do all these minor evils we are now con- 

 sidering. How this is effected, I have shown in the 15th and 16th sections 

 of the first book, at pages 18 — 20. Like unto the other disorders of this "lass, 

 blisters and rest are the only remedies : apply the blistering liniment composed 

 of cantharides and spirits of wine. 



SPAVIN. 



Bog spavin is the more conmion, blood spavin but rare. Both varieties, as 

 Well as bone spavin, owe their origin to hard work in early life, in the same 

 manner as just adduced in cas-^s of windgall, and thoroughpin. Bog spavin 

 .s caused by the joint oil of the hough issuing into the membrane that sur- 

 rounds it, and stagnating under the vein causes this to swell. The old reme- 

 dy of taking up the vein by ligature should be abandoned as a long and tedi- 

 ous mode of cure : the circulation has then to force a new channel, in doing 

 which irritation of the parts adjacent is the means of cure, by promoting ab- 

 sorption ; where.as the same eflect might be produced by blistering, as in the 

 two correspondent disorders just named above. 



BONE SPAVIN. 



H'his disorder consists in a bony enlargement at the upper end of the shank- 

 l one, inside of the hock-joint, or a liUle below it. It belongs to the hind leg 

 only ; and if not undertaken in time becomes incurable. 



At the seat of this disorder the leg is composed of three bones, which fit to- 

 gether into one common cavity at the hock ; and notwithstanding they appear 

 as close together as one bone, yet possess separate motion to give elasticity to 

 the animal's tread, and assist him in the act of progression, as may be observed 

 in the working of his haunclies when the horse is going at full speed, or 

 mailing a standing leap. By mounting the colt whilst too young to l)ear tbo 

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