338 CURB. 



their stables, and full of corn, they did so, and that in some gambol 

 the curb was sprung : I mean, however, to say for certain, that 

 neither horse was galloped or leaped. I have been particular in 

 mentioning these two cases, in order to shew that what is called 

 violence or abuse is by no means absolutely necessary to the pro- 

 duction of curb ; and that, on the contrary, curb will sometimes 

 arise, purely the result of accident. 



The Hock most disposed to curb is the one we designate 

 the sickle hock. In proportion as the line drawn from the point of 

 the hock down the back of the leg deviates from the perpendicu- 

 lar, or, in other words, in proportion as it inclines forwards under- 

 neath the body of the animal, so is the hock, by the increase of the 

 angle between the thigh and leg, rendered weak and predisposed 

 to give way : this is especially the case when the thigh happens 

 to be long and lank, as with such contbrmation of hock it is 

 very apt to be. A horse with such hind-quarters as these is a 

 curby subject, and as such objectionable for hunting or racing, or 

 any kind of work calling for great strength of hock. Added to 

 which, when once such a hock has failed, there exists a constant 

 liability in it to repetition of failure. The best chance of its stand- 

 ing is a reduction of the morbid parts down to that state of thick- 

 ening and callosity described under the " pathology of curb." This 

 may enable them, when nothing else will, to withstand the force 

 and shock of action. And this it is that accounts for old curbs, 

 although large, not being attended with lameness. 



Lameness is a common, not a constant. Symptom of 

 Curb. — At times, hardly any disease gives rise to more intense 

 lameness than curb; the horse absolutely walks \2in\e — seems as 

 though he were literally broken down behind ; whereas at other 

 times no lameness is observable ; and between these two extremes 

 we may have present any degree of lameness. Usually, a curbed 

 horse is too lame to work, or is kept from work by growing lamer 

 every time he is made to perform it. Repose always benefits his 

 lameness; exercise or exertion invariably does him harm. Many 

 a horse — in particular, a young unbroke horse — shews for curb, who 

 has never evinced lameness, nor seems likely to do so ; and more 

 horses still shew curbs which have been treated — either blistered 



