.390 BOXE SrAYlX. 



continue and extend to the joint. Tlic surgeon, therefore, cannot "be per- 

 fectly safe in pronouncing- a bone spavin to be of no consequence. Horses 

 with exceedingly large spavins are often seen that are only shghtly lame, 

 or that merely have a stitlhess in their gait at fii'st starting, but which 

 gradually goes ofi" after a httle motion ; while others, with the bony 

 tumour comparatively small, have the lameness so great as to destroy the 

 usefulness of the horse. There is always this pecuharity in the lameness 

 of spavin, that it abates, and sometimes disappears, on exercise ; and there- 

 fore, a horse with regard to which there is any suspicion of this affection 

 shcHild be examined when first in the morning it is taken from the 

 stable. 



If the spavin continues to increase, the bony deposit fii'st spreads over 

 the lower wedge-bones,/, page 385, for these are nearest to its original 

 seat. They are capable of slight motion, and share in every action of the 

 joint, but their principal design is to obviate concussion. The chief 

 motion of the joint, and that compared with which the motion of the other 

 bones is scarcely to be regarded, is confined to the tibia, a, and the astra- 

 galus, h, and therefore stifihess rather than lameness may accompany 

 spavin, even wdien it is beginning to affect the small bones of the joint. 

 Hence too is the advantage of these bones having each its separate liga- 

 ments and membranes, and constituting so many distinct joints, since 

 injury may happen to some of them, without the effect being propagated 

 to the rest. When the bony deposit continues to enlarge, and takes in 

 the second layer of bones — the larger wedge-bones, e — and even spreads 

 to the cuboid bones on the other side, the lameness may not be very great, 

 because these are joints, or parts of the joints, in which the motion is 

 small ; but when it extends to the union- of the tibia, a, and the astragalus, 

 b — ivhen the joint, in which is the chief motion of the hock, is attacked 

 — the lameness is indeed formidable, and the horse becomes nearly or quite 

 useless. 



Young horses are more subject to spavin than old ones, and although 

 the chief active agent in their production may be traced to concussion or 

 sprain, there cannot be a doubt but that in many instances, like curb, there 

 is an hereditary predisposition inherited from the parents of the animal, 

 which requires but some very slight cause to hasten its formation. "We 

 cannot too clearly impress upon all breeders of horses the great impor- 

 tance of giving attention to this well-established fact ; and inducing them 

 to select only those animals to breed fi-om tliat are free from those diseases, 

 such as spavin, ringbone, curb, roaring, &c. &c., which will assuredly 

 sooner or later develope themselves in their produce. 



The s}Tnptoms by which we may detect spavin in its early stages, wdieii 

 no bony enlargement can be felt, are somewhat obscure. There are, 

 however, some peculiarities in the action of the animal that wdll assist us. 

 When first brought out he goes stiffly and docs not flex the hmb properly, 

 only getting his toe to the ground, which will be more evident when 

 turning a corner ; after a little exercise the stiffness will generally dis- 

 appear. If, however, ulcerative disease be going on, the lameness will 

 increase with inotion. The horse frequently i-ests the affected limb in the 

 stable, and when made to move from one side to the other will genei^lly 

 giva evidence of lameness. The history of the case, and absence of any 

 other source of lameness, will also materially assist in pointing out the 

 scat of disease. 



Spavined horses are generally capable of slow Avork. They are equal 

 to the greater part of the work of the farm, and therefore they should not 

 be a^hvays rejected by the small farmer, as they may generally be 

 procured at little jirice. These horses are not only capable of agricultural 



