304 CURB. 



that of a spavin, but its course is somewhat different. When 

 the injury is first received, the enlargement becomes quite 

 prominent ; but, as time advances, it generally disappears from 

 view, even without the aid of man, spreading itself between 

 the cannon and splint bones, thus lessening its size externally. 

 Splints are not regarded as unsoundness, unless they cause 

 lameness, which rarely occurs, particularly if they are situated 

 near the middle of the bone ; but if they are situated either at 

 the upper or lower portions, or heads, lameness is almost always 

 the result. This is easily explained ; the bone, it will be ob- 

 served, curves from above downward and outward, so that 

 the lower extremity sets off from the body of the cannon bone ; 

 the upper heads, where it unites with the bones of the knee 

 and hock, slant or bevel inward, and as the weight of the 

 animal is thrown upon them, the upper heads are forced out- 

 ward, while the lower ones are thrown inward. By this 

 simple arrangement a rocking motion of these bones takes 

 place, so that at the centre there is very little mobility, and 

 if the injury is above, it causes lameness in consequence of 

 tension ; if below, from pressure ; but, if it is in the centre, it 

 seldom causes lameness at all, though the injury is greater. 



When lameness occurs, the union of the bones should be 

 hastened by increasing the inflammatory action ; this is best 

 done by active blistering, which soon removes the lameness. 



CURB. 



This is a swelling on the back part of the hock joint below 

 the cap, generally arising from a strain, or breaking down of 

 the hock. Some horses naturally have what are called curb- 



