82 TREATMEiNT OF SPAVIN. 



Treatment of Spavin. 



Spavin is one of those diseases improvement in the treatment of 

 which has not kept pace with our advances in the science of hippo- 

 pathology. AVe all acknowledge that new and bright lights have 

 been thrown on the pathology of spavin ; that we are now in a 

 situation, through discoveries in morbid anatomy, of explaining 

 that in the symptomatology and curability of the disease which be- 

 fore was inexplicable ; and yet we have left, not merely unimproved 

 upon, but undisturbed, our ancestors' plans of treatment: nay, 

 hold them at the present hour in all the estimation they were for- 

 merly held. It may be matter of fact, that the experience of ages 

 has but confirmed the insurpassable efficacy of the old mode of 

 treatment; it is, however, strange, to say the least about it, that 

 the very same remedies our forefathers employed with most suc- 

 cess for the cure or relief of spavined horses, should, now that the 

 disease has been proved to reside loithin as well as without the 

 hock joint — 'to consist in ulceration and caries, as well as in exos- 

 tosis — still maintain undiminished their good reputation. To re- 

 move any doubt concerning the antiquity of our present remedial 

 agents for spavin, I shall make a few quotations from some of 

 the old authors on farriery, beginning with SoUeysel. " Bone 

 spavin," says this father of veterinary medicine, " is a very dan- 

 gerous distemper, and requires the most violent remedy, viz. the 

 fire ; and even this is oftentimes applied without success." — 

 *' When the disease is hereditary*, it is in vain to attempt the cure 

 by any method than by giving the fire." Again: ''No person 

 can promise a certain cure in this case, or to make a horse sound 

 that is troubled with spavin, by giving the fire; though there is 

 no other effectual remedyM' From this quotation, we learn that 

 Solleysel not only was fully acquainted with the superior efficacy 

 of firing, but that in recommending it he was likewise aware how 



* The hereditariness of spavin was discussed at p. 60. 

 f Compleat Horseman, Part II, chap, cv, page 281-2. 



