CURB. 337 



For reasons I have already stated, viz. the rarity of the occa- 

 sions afforded us for examining curbed hocks, I should not think of 

 putting my opinions in opposition to the asserted disease of liga- 

 ment in curb — either of the annular, or the external lateral superfi- 

 cial, or the calco-cuboid ligament. All I can say on this subject at 

 present is, that I have not met with disease of the parts in ques- 

 tion ; and should feel inclined to view such disease, when present, 

 rather as consecutive of, or collateral with, the thecal affection than 

 in the light of the proximate cause of curb. 



The Cause of Curb, investigated, throws a good deal of light 

 upon its nature. It evidently consists in sprain or rupture of some 

 part; and this part I have shewn from my own observation to be, 

 ordinarily, the cellular sheath and bursa of the tendo perforatus, 

 A person takes his horse out for a day's hunt, finds him drop all in 

 a moment excessivelv lame behind, and afterwards, when he comes 

 to search for the cause of lameness, he discovers he has thrown 

 out a curb. The physiological history of an accident of this kind 

 appears to be, that the animal, in going through some slough in the 

 course of the hunt, or over some rough or deep fallow, or in taking 

 some high or wide or awkward leap, or from stepping unawares 

 into a rabbit-hole or mire, has, to save himself from falling while 

 he maintains his pace, been compelled to put his gastrocnemii 

 muscles suddenly, and perhaps unexpectedly, into instantaneous 

 and vigorous action ; the result of which has been stretch or " sprain," 

 if not laceration, of the cellular sheath of the perforatus tendon. 



Although hard galloping and leaping may be set down as espe- 

 cial causes of curb, yet may the disease be produced in the entire 

 absence of such causes. I have known more than one instance of 

 horses throwing out curbs in the course of even walking exercise. 

 I remember a four-year-old blood troop mare walking only from 

 the Regent's Park to Wormwood Scrubs and back, and being the 

 following morning brought to me for having " thrown out a curb." 

 Another accident of the kind I recollect happening to another troop 

 (aged) horse, who was only walked from the Regent's Park to 

 Shoreditch and back, on the occasion of the threatened Chartist 

 disturbance. I do not mean to say that these horses did not frolic 

 and jump about; the probability is that, coming fresh out of 



VOL. IV XX 



