SPAVINS. 181 



Some of the soundest and best hunters have been 

 thus formed ; and, therefore, unless lameness exists at 

 the time of examination in one or both of the hocks, it 

 is most unjustifiable ignorance to reject the horse as 

 unsound. 



Dealers have a very expressive phrase for small 

 spavins — ( rough hocks ' — which most clearly defines the 

 existence of unnatural and uneven growths of bone. 



The treatment should consist of cooling diet, a dose 

 of physic, and absolute rest for two or three weeks ; 

 when, if the spavin appears not to have increased, and 

 if no inflammation exists, which will be discovered by 

 the horse going sound when led out, a second dose of 

 physic may be administered, and the hocks fired as soon 

 as the action of the physic has subsided ; after which a 

 rest of at least three months must be allowed. 



I do not mean to assert that this treatment will be 

 sure to effect a cure or anything of the kind ; for I do 

 not believe that more than one case in ten is ever 

 cured ; but such treatment has the merit of being hu- 

 mane, since it abates the inflammation, and checks the 

 deposit of bone. 



All manner of barbarous remedies for spavin have 

 been called into play, such as the insertion of a seton 

 under the skin, and immediately over the exostosis, so 

 as to produce irritation and sloughing of bone ; the 

 application of sulphuric acid; and some of the old 

 school of farriers have gone so far as to chip off the 

 spavin with a chisel. All these courses of treatment 

 have more frequently produced inordinate inflammation 



