THE MODERN HOUSE DOCTOR. 273 



Almost all the veterinary surgeons of the old world have re- 

 sorted to the firing iron or blister for the cure of spavin ; the 

 cure, however, we contend, is only imaginary. The restoration 

 of the horse to comparative usefulness is the object, and that 

 does not always follow ; yet, in justice to those whose position 

 and long experience entitle them to the confidence of the world, 

 we are constrained to acknowledge that their practice is often 

 accompanied with astonishing success. The practice of firing, 

 however, we do seriously oppose ; it is a barbarism that should 

 long since have been discontinued. We never performed the 

 operation but once, and have ever since been sorry for it. 



As to blisters, we regard them in the light of a last resort ; 

 yet, when applied understandingly, we are not sure that it would 

 be good policy to oppose their use ; for they are used by human 

 practitioners in urgent cases with marked success. Cases are 

 constantly occurring in large cities, in which, for several reasons, 

 it is our duty to hurry the process of anchylosis, and thus put the 

 subject into working condition in less time than by the ordinary 

 method of nature ! The remedy in this view is acetate of can- 

 tharides, applied occasionally, so as to keep up an active state 

 of inflammatory action, by which means the usual transforma- 

 tions are effected. The remedy is contra-indicated in all cases 

 of high inflammatory action, attended with heat, pain, and un- 

 usual lameness : these states are to be subdued by the usual re- 

 frigerating and anodyne lotions, ere we resort to any preparation 

 of cantharides. The above preparation does not produce so 

 much pain or irritation as a common blister. 



Nature and Seat of Spavin. — Spavin is a compound of two 

 diseases, known as exostosis and anchylosis : the former signifies 

 hypertrophy of bone, (hyperostosis,) — morbid enlargement ; 

 anchylosis signifies stiff joint — absorption of inter-articular car- 

 tilage and substitution of bone. Anchylosis, however, does not 

 take place in what is properly understood as the hock joint, com- 

 posed of the tibia and astragalus — although a very common oc- 

 currence in the human subject; but it generally occurs beneath 

 the true joint, within its collateral or inferior articulations, known 

 as the tarsal bones. Spavin, therefore, may commence in exos- 

 tosis and end in anchylosis, and vice versa. The seat of spavin, 



