WIKD GALLS.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[B0G-SPAVI5T. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



SWELLINGS AND TUMOURS. — WINDGALLS ; BOG-SPAVIN ; THOROUGH-PIN ; 



ABSCESS ; TUMOUR ON THE KNEE. 



CAPPED HOCK : SEROUS 



WINDGALLS. 



WiNDGALLS consist of a kind of cyst, or sac, 

 attendant on most, or all joints, and frequently 

 occasion lameness, and, if not this, tliey are a 

 great eye-sore. These sacs are situate on 

 both sides of the tendons, just above the fet- 

 lock joints, on the fore, and not unfrequently 

 on the hind legs likewise. They become 

 enlarged, generally, from hard work, causing 

 a greater determination of blood to the part, 

 and continue to increase until they become 

 disagreeably large. It is from this circum- 

 stance, that liniments, or lotions, are applied 

 to them to reduce them, and this apparently 

 takes place ; but when the animal is again put 

 to work, they as certainly begin again to 

 enlarge, and when they grow to the disagree- 

 able size we sometimes see them, thev never 

 af^ain contract, so far as to allow the affected 

 part to assume its original form. 



Eor the cure of these unsigiitly things, lini- 

 ments, lotions, and even blistering have little 

 or no effect. Perhaps the best plan to be 

 adopted is first to clip the hair off" all round 

 the leg, over the fetlock joint, and about three 

 inches above the seat of the enlargement. 

 When this is done, the whole of the clipped 

 part should be well rubbed with mercurial 

 plaister, thoroughly melted. This should be 

 effectively applied with a paint-brush, and 

 none of the parts overlooked. This done, a 

 flannel bandage, about three yards long, and 

 about three inches broad, should be bound 

 tight round the leg, and allowed to remain so 

 situated for a fortnight ; when by clipping it 

 with a pair of scissors down the front of the 

 leg, it may be allowed to fall off, and tlie limb 

 be set at liberty. A cradle must be used. 

 Should this mode of treatment not be found 

 effectual, the parts may be fired, or the burses 

 opened in the following manner: — Have the 

 horse cast, and with a pretty large abscess- 

 lancet lay open the enlarged hursce at bottom, 

 or lower part, to such an extent as to enable 

 the finger to be introduced, which should be 

 196 



done and turned in it several times. This will 

 break the membrane of the sac. Then put a 

 suture in the wound, and draw the lips of it 

 together, and allow the animal to rise. This 

 treatment will, at first, cause some little 

 swelling, which should be bathed well with 

 warm water, two or three times a day, and a 

 bandage applied. When the inflammation 

 has considerably subsided, treat the puncture 

 as a common wound. If the case is a bad one, 

 and the windgalls very large, so soon as the 

 inflammation has subsided, cast the horse 

 again, and fire the parts, which has been found 

 to act very successfully. The horse should 

 have a loose box, and a dose or two of physic, 

 during the time he is resting. In the treat- 

 ment of these enlargements iodine and mer- 

 curial ointments have been advantageously 

 used in proportion of three parts of the former 

 to two of the latter. Blistering causes their 

 disappearance for a time ; but, with work, they 

 are sure to return. 



BOG-SPAVIN 



Is a disease, very common where there is 

 hard work, especially in young horses, when 

 they have been too early used. The hock ia 

 liable to more diseases than any other joint 

 belonging to the horse ; it being designed for 

 very extensive motion ; but the motion of it, 

 during natural labour, is very different from 

 that which occurs when an animal is thrown 

 upon his haunches, or pulled up suddenly, or 

 when taking high and wide leaps. These 

 violent motions of the joint, are, as may well 

 be supposed, likely to produce disorder. Bog- 

 spavin, then, is an enlargement of the mucus 

 capsule, situated immediately in the bend of 

 the hock, and near to the superficial vein, 

 passing obliquely over the part ; in fact, it may 

 be said to be a corresponding disease to wind- 

 galls in the fetlock joint. It does not always 

 produce lameness.; but, when so large as to 

 do this, and prevent the horse from working, 

 the tumour should be immediately opened aa 



