90 REMEDIES FOR SPAVIN. 



struct! ve character which would ahiiost for certain leave the hock in 

 a worse state than it was even in its purely spavined condition. 

 Nay, in one or two instances the hock joint became opened from 

 sloughing, consequent on the operation, thereby endangering not 

 the limb only, but the life of the animal. The saw would have 

 been a less offensive instrument for such an operation than the 

 chisel ; indeed, with a saw such as is used for like purposes by 

 surgeons, the removal of the tumour might have been effected with 

 comparative safety. I have heard a veterinary surgeon say, he 

 has used the horse-rasp. In any case there exists danger of in- 

 flammation ensuing. Added to which, there is to be considered, 

 that, although so much of the ossification may be removed as con- 

 stitutes the " lump" or swelling, the base or bed from which such 

 tumour has grown still remains, uniting the cushion, and other 

 bones as well perhaps, as fixedly together as ever. And, as for 

 the ulcerative disease within the joint, supposing such to exist, 

 that cannot, of course, be in any way ameliorated, supposing it 

 not to be aggravated, by such an operation. Lastly, we must not 

 be surprised if a second and larger spavin should grow in the 

 place from which the first has been removed. 



Caustic has been employed to remove the exostosis. " Bold 

 ignorant men," as Gibson calls them, have done a vast deal of harm 

 by the indiscriminate use of caustic applications of the most potent 

 nature — such as arsenic, corrosive sublimate, &c. ; at the same 

 time, it is not to be denied that remedies of such powerful agency 

 in the hands of those whose observation and experience has taught 

 them their legitimate use, are neither to be dreaded nor despised. 

 I should, myself, lay it down as a rule, on no occasion to be de- 

 parted from, that high or genuine spavin, i. e. exostosis seated 

 upon the cushion bones, is not a case for the employment of caustic, 

 owing to the contiguity of the hock-joints. But that the low or spuri- 

 ous spavin — that which is veritably but a hind splent — is the appo- 

 site case ; and that to " take off" such an exostosis, caustic has been, 

 and, I believe, by an old and respectable veterinary practitioner of 

 my intimate acquaintance continues to be, used with satisfactory 

 results. The mode of application is this : — With a sharp-pointed 

 conical — sort of elongated budding — iron, red hot, bore holes, half 



