278 WINDGALL. 



with any joints. On such, work operates in a different manner. 

 Continual forcible tension or strain upon any muscle or tendon has 

 the effect, through the extraordinary pressure and motion conveyed 

 to it, of producing excited action in the capillary system of the 

 bursa or bursse such muscle or tendon plays over, the ordinate 

 result of which is a distended or hypertrophic condition of such 

 bursal structures. Bursal swellings of this description now and 

 then occur upon the arms and hands of men, and are very apt to 

 happen with laundresses in particular, in consequence of the exer- 

 tion they are obliged to put their arms and hands to in washing. 

 We remember to have seen a washerwomen's arms and wrists 

 literally beset with such tumours. We took the opportunity of 

 making some inquiries of her concerning them. She disavowed 

 feeling any pain, or indeed experiencing any inconvenience from 

 their presence; neither would she admit that they in any manner 

 or degree detracted from her physical strength of hand or arm. Two 

 inferences appeared deducible from this human case. One was, 

 that the windgalls — ganglions a,s they are called by surgeons — 

 had their origin in hard work; the other, that numerous as they 

 might be, and in the instance mentioned were, they were produc- 

 tive neither of pain nor inconvenience, nor even of diminished 

 power. And when we come to apply these facts — for facts as 

 respect windgalls generally they appear to be — to horses, we 

 caimot but form opinions in our own minds somewhat at variance 

 with the notions entertained by the horse public in general on this 

 score. 



If with the Predisposition of the Young are combined 

 THE Causes which produce windgall in the old or worked horse, 

 the joints and bursee may naturally be expected to give way. 

 Parts incompletely formed, but growing into the strength and sta- 

 mina they are intended one day to possess, cannot bear even the 

 usage which to adult limbs is but healthful exercise ; and therefore 

 it happens that four and five year old horses, prematurely taken 

 to be ridden or driven hard, or to be overworked in riding schools, 

 exhibit bog-spavins and thoroughpins so frequently, and now 

 and then windgalls (commonly so called) as well. In fact, the 

 young horse, and, in particular, such a one as is coarse and long 

 limbed and large jointed, when taken into work may be said to be 



