THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 265 



confine it, so as to produce slight pressure on the tumor, the 

 outer bandage to be moistened as often as convenient. Rest at 

 this stage is highly important, because the periosteum, or else the 

 interosseous fibro-cartilage between the splent and canon, is 

 inflamed, and all motion aggravates it. 



In a case of long standing, and even in one having a well- 

 marked tumor, stiffness and lameness may be relieved by the 

 occasional application of acetate of cantharides. 



Some surgeons blister for the cure of splent; others saw off 

 the tumor ; and periosteotomy has been resorted to in view of 

 cure ; but, unfortunately, splent is no more curable than spavin, 

 when once the cartilage has been converted into bone ; and as in 

 the majority of cases it is but an eyesore, and detracts but little 

 from the value, and still less on the score of usefulness, of the 

 horse, it may be well to pause ere we operate for the cure of an 

 incurable disease. 



EXPLANATION OF CUTS. 



Cut 1. — Appearance of the hock before dissection and maceration. 

 Cut 2. — Appearance of bones composing the hock after maceration. 



1. Os calcis. 



2. Astragalus. 



3. 3. Large and medium, cuneiform bones, united to each other, and coated 

 with bony deposit. 



4. 4, 4. Bony prominence, or spavin tumor. 



5. Canon or metatarsus magnus. 



6. Small (inner) metatarsal or splent, the head of which is involved in ossific 

 disease, so as to be immovable. 



7. The articular cartilages being ossified, the canon is united to the bone 

 above. The whole surface of diseased parts, as delineated, have a rough, un- 

 even, and spongy appearance. This is one of the hocks alluded to in article 

 Spavin. The diseased parts were obtained from Messrs. Freeman & Scates, 

 owners of the horse. 



SPAVIN. 



It is most astonishing that in this age of improvement means 

 are not discovered for the prevention of this, one of the most 

 common diseases of the horse's hock. It has got to be so com- 



•23 



