284 WINDGALL. 



such localities as are furnished with bursae mucosae or synovial 

 sheaths: these however in the limbs, in the vicinity of the various 

 joints in particular, are so numerous that divers are the situations 

 in which windgalls present themselves. In some situations they 

 are so common as to be, in horses in work, oftener present than 

 absent; while in others their presence is so rare that but few or no 

 examples may happen to occur to a practitioner in the course even 

 of his lifetime. The ordinary seat of windgall, everybody, in or out 

 of the profession, knows is the fetlock joint : in fact, so common is 

 this site, that, when " windgall" is spoken of, this is the description 

 at once taken for granted to be referred to. The next most 

 frequent site — perhaps, in young horses, a more usual one — for 

 windgall, is the hock-joint. Bog-spavin, thorough-pin, and 

 capped hock, may be regarded as so many species of windgalls 

 occupying different localities about the hock, and differing in their 

 nature and importance according to their several respective lo- 

 calities and connexions. Next in priority comes the elbow ; then 

 the knee. Last of all, the front of the fetlock, and in the heel. 



Species. — One windgall differs from another in character and 

 consequences, not only as regards the part or tissue each respectively 

 occupies, but in the relations which from its particular locality each 

 respectively has with surrounding parts and tissues. Some 

 windgalls, from their relation to joints, either from their first 

 formation make but common cavities with such joints, or in the 

 course of time do so afterwards ; others there are which maintain 

 themselves free from all such communication, notwithstanding they 

 are in the vicinity of articulations. Others, again, there are which 

 from their situation are altogether independent of the joints. 



Another marked distinction between windgalls is self-evident in 

 the circumstance of some being accompanied by lameness, while 

 others there are — and these latter, as we have already stated, 

 constitute a vast majority — which are hardly ever known to be 

 productive of lameness : at least so long as they continue to remain 

 in that statu quo they ordinarily present themselves. 



The Treatment of Windgalls, unless lameness arise from 

 their presence, is a matter little heeded by professional persons ; 

 nor is it one sought after much by persons out of the profession, 



