THR HORSR. 121 



THE BLOOD-SPAVIN, OR BOG-Sl'AVlN, 



Many farriers and horse-dealers divide this disease into 

 two heads, and give them different names ; but to my cer- 

 tain knowledge, they are both one, for I have proved it 

 many ways. A Blood- Spavin does not come by breeding 

 from spavined mares, nor by being got by spavined horses, 

 as the Bone- Spavin does ; but you may safely breed out of 

 a Blood-Spavined mare, or have foals got by a Blood-Spav- 

 ined horse. 



In mj^ opinion, Blood-Spavins are generally brought on 

 either by Sprains, or hard labor when the horse is young, 

 and sometimes when he is full-gi'own. 



The Blood-Spavin, or Bog-Spavin, is a dilation of the 

 vein that runs along the inside of the hock, and forms a 

 small soft swelling in the hollow part, which in time ren- 

 ders the creature lame, but seldom till the gelatinous mat- 

 ter becomes ropy, like melted glue in a bag, and is situate 

 on the inside of the hough. Sometimes it goes through to 

 the back part of the joint, and then it is called a thorough- 

 pin. 



Cure. Soon as you discover the vein puffed up, or 

 forming a bag, lay on some blistering ointment, and in four 

 days after, bathe the swelling well with hot vinegar, with a 

 little saltpetre dissolved in it. Also put a bandage round it 

 to disperse the swelling as much as you can. If this me- 

 thod do not succeed, you must make two incisions in the 

 skin lengthwise, as the vein runs, one just above, and the 

 other just below the joint, and lay the vein bare ; then put 

 the end of a buck's horn under it, raise it up, and fasten it 

 in both places with waxed thread ; then cut fhe vein in 

 two at both places, within the tyings, and if you think pro- 

 per, draw the vein out. This method of proceeding will 

 cure most Bog-Spavins at the beginning. Spring, or the 

 back end of the year, is the most proper time for this ope- 

 ration ; but the latter is preferable, as you can then let the 

 horse run out most of winter, which will be of great ser- 

 vice to him. 



If the above method fail of a cure, you may make an ia- 



cision into the bag with a knife, and let out the gelatinous 



matter, and then dress the wound with a digestive ointment 



tin the bag be destroyed. But this is a dangerqus method, 



I* 



