DISEASES AFFECTING BONES, ETC. 



CURB 



The position of this — curb — is a few inches 

 below the point of the hock, and lying in a 

 straight line with the latter. No matter how 

 small a curb may be, by viewing it in profile it 

 will easily be seen. One or both hocks may be 

 affected with curb, though such are not 

 always the same, as regards the size of 

 the curb. The development of curb is 

 frequently associated with defective hock con- 

 formation, in [other words, the so-called curby, 

 overbent, or sickle-shaped hocks, are regarded, 

 by many, as predisposed to become affected in 

 this manner. This view is not entertained by 

 all veterinary surgeons, but the author strongly 

 believes that hocks thus constructed are more 

 liable to become curby than those that are of 

 good conformation. It is seldom that curb leads 

 to lameness, and when it does so, it is mainly 

 during its formative stage. It is, however, 

 customary for veterinary surgeons to reject 

 horses having curb, no matter how small such 

 may be. Its significance, in a hunter, is neces- 

 sarily greater than that in a harness horse, and 



165 L2 



