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CHAPTER VIII. 

 DISEASES OF BONE. 



Bones must be considered as a living texture, being 

 well furnished with all the adjuncts of vitality. Some 

 anatomists have denied the existence of nerves, but the 

 existence of pain in bones is a sufficient proof of the 

 existence of nerves ; accordingly, bones are liable to 

 various diseases, such as inflammation, suppuration, 

 and mortification. The former leads to an increased 

 and morbid growth of bone which leads to various com- 

 plications, such as union of bones in joints, undue pres- 

 sure on ligaments, nerves, &c, both of which cause 

 lameness. 



BONE SPAVIN. 



Low-bred horses which are accustomed to draw or 

 carry heavy weights are usually afflicted with this 

 disease. It consists in increased growth of bone on 

 the external surfaces of the inner side of the bones — 

 usually the scaphoid and cuneiform — of the hock. It 

 is generally met with in horses which stand with their 



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