nixr.noNE.] 



MODERN VK'l'KKlNA K V I* li A CTl C IL 



[anciiylosih. 



even so far timt the cofTm-boiip, and the navi- 

 cular, or nut-bono, partake of tho iliscaso. 



" Horses with short uprii^'ht joints," says 

 tlio editor of The Horse, " aiul with small fici 

 and high aetion, aro oftenest, as may bo sup- 

 posed, the suhjeets of this disease, which is the 

 consequence either of concussion or sprain of 

 the pastern joints. It is also more frequent 

 in the hind foot than the fore ; because, from 

 the violent action of the hind lepjs in propel- 

 ling the horse forward, tlio pasterns aro more 

 subject to ligamentary injury behind than 

 before ; yet the lameness is not as great there, 

 because the disease is confined principally to 

 the ligaments, and tho bones have not been 

 injured by concussion ; while from the position 

 of the fore limbs, there will generally be in 

 them injury of the bones to be added to that 

 of the ligaments. In its early stage, and when 

 recognised only by a bony enlargement on 

 both sides of the pastern joint, or in some few 

 cases on one side only, the lameness is not 

 very considerable, and it is not impossible to 

 remove the disease by active blistering, or by 

 the application of the cautery ; but there is so 

 much wear and tear in this part of the animal, 

 that the inflammation and the disposition to 

 the formation of bone rapidly spreads." 



If the horse should be lame, the best plan 

 to adopt is, to relieve the vessels as near the 

 part as possible, by bleeding in the foot to the 

 amount of at least two quarts. After replac- 

 ing the shoe, and applying a pledget of tow, 

 administer the following ball : — 



Aloes, Cape 6 drachms. 



Ginger 1 do. 



Form with soft soap. 



Should this not De sufficient to purge the 

 horse, increase the dose, as may be necessary, 

 with a drachm or two of aloes, at the same 

 time having the horse fed on bran mashes for 

 at least a day previous. "When the physic is 

 set, apply the mercurial blister as prescribed 



in the case of spavin, and keep it open by 



occasionally ap|)lying hog's lard to tho part 

 for live or six days. In the coutho of threo or 

 lour weeks, should tho animal not have got rid 

 of his lameness, recourse nujst Ixr had to firing, 

 which should bo done at least half way up tho 

 largo pastern bone, and down to tho hoof, in 

 what is called diamonts. After this, lay some 

 mild blister on ; and, in most cases, the lame- 

 ness will be altogether removed. If it should 

 not, repeat the firing, and blister again. 



ANCHYLOSIS. 

 The origin of this disease is an inflammation 

 of tho ligaments, connecting joints togetlier, 

 and occurring in the fore legs, particularly 

 between the large and small pastern bones. 

 It may also arise from sprain or laceration, as 

 well as from various other causes, such as 

 tumefaction of the ends of bones, caries, frac- 

 ture, dislocation. As tho horse becomes ased. 

 stiffness in the joints is also apt to occur. 

 Anchylosis, however, is a disease which more 

 frequently occurs in the spine, or back-bone, 

 than in any other part. "When this is the 

 case, the horse is termed rigged in the back, 

 because he is most generally affected about 

 the loins. The difficulty he shows in turning 

 — giving to his body a kind of jerk, according 

 as he may be turned either to the left or the 

 right — has given rise to the term rig ; and if 

 he be trotted, he will have such a rolling gait, 

 accompanied with such apparent weakness, 

 that what is the matter with him is at once 

 perceived. There aro, however, many horses 

 called clanked in the hack, which may, in a 

 measure, be restored, for slow work, by giving 

 them as much rest as possible ; as this kiua 

 of anchylosis of the back-bone does not inter- 

 fere with the animal employed in slow farm 

 labour. If the disease takes place in either 

 tho fetlock joints, pasterns, knee, hock, ot 

 stifle, the horse will be totally useless, and 

 a cure is impossible. 



179 



