ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 215 



merits, by which it is articulated to the great 

 bone of the hock, are fometirnes over-ftretc ti- 

 ed, and the {title-bone may be moved, in 

 all directions, by the hand. The horfe will 

 go lame, and only touch the ground with his 

 toe. 



Bone-spavins are, in the hind, what fplents 

 are in the fore-legs ; but always of much worfe 

 confequence, becaufe ufually nearer the joint. 

 They are to be felt on the infide of the hough, 

 or hock. They are faid to be hereditary, as 

 well as acquired by drains, the llgnification of 

 which perhaps is, that a Horfe may be predif- 

 pofed to them, by a natural moiftnefs of con- 

 ilitution and laxity of the tendons. They 

 occafion lamenefs, either perpetual, or at inter- 

 vals; and as, nine times out often, this is the 

 cafe, after a pretended cure, it is fafeft to hold 

 them incurable. Spavins, by the pain they 

 occafion, generally prevent a horfe from get- 

 ting flefh. 



Bog-spavins, termed by the French, veffi- 

 gons, and improperly called blood-fpavins by 

 our farriers, are fwellings like windgalls, fituate 

 in the hollow or infide of the hock, and may alfo 

 be feen and felt, on each fide, without. When 

 thefe prevail to any great degree, or the infide 

 of the hock feels puffed or flabby, inftead of 

 clofe, dry, and elafhc, it is the certain indica- 

 tion of hard fervice ; and although it is often 



p 4 neglecled s 



