THOBOUOH-piN.] MODEEN VETERINARY PRACTICE. [capped hock.. 



directed in wiiulj^alls. Great care, liowever, 

 must be taken not to puneturo tlio vein, wliieh 

 may be easily prevented, by tyin-,' a liUet of 

 tape round the bottom part of the thigh. This 

 will enable the course of the vein to bo dis- 

 covered, and, consequently, avoided. Having 

 made the puncture, and found out the mucus, 

 put into tiio wound a little sulphate of zinc, 

 and proceed in all other respects as described 

 for windgalls. 



The editor of The Horse says, that the old 

 and absurd method of passing a ligature above 

 and below the enlarged portion of the vein, and 

 then dissecting it out, is not in the advanced 

 Btage of veterinary science practised by any 

 surgeon who regards his reputation ; it being 

 merely the consequence, not the cause of the 

 disease. The only method of relief which holds 

 out any promise even of temporary success is 

 exciting considerable inflammation on the skin 

 and thus rousing the deeper seated absorbents 

 to carrv away the fluid cflused in the enlarged 

 bag. For this purpose, blisters or firing may 

 be tried ; but in the majority of cases the dis- 

 ease will bid defiance to all appliances or will 

 return and baffle our hopes when we bad 

 seemed to be accomplishing our object. 



Where there is bog- spavin the horse should 

 only be used for ordinary work. Hard or 

 rapid work is out of the question. 



THOROUGH-PIN 



Is a bursal enlargement, situated in the 

 upper and back part of the hock, the tumour 

 fshowing itself on either side ; hence its name, 

 thorough-pin. This seldoni occasions lame- 

 ness. It is caused by over-weighting, immo- 

 derate riding, and ill-management in the break- 

 ing of young horses. 



For its treatment proceed precisely as 

 directed for windfalls and hog-spavin. 



" I have," says Professor Spooner, " known 

 a troublesome and obstinate lameness produced 

 from the upper thorough-pin, or perhaps ratlier 

 from some strain of the tendon which attended 

 it. It gave way, however, at length, to a seton 

 placed over the part — not througii it. I have 

 also succeeded in removing a very large tho- 

 rough-pin in the lower situation in a high-class 

 race-horse, by the long-continued application 

 of equal parts of iodine and mercurial oint- 

 ment; previously, however, stimulating the 



part with a mild liquid bli.stcr. Tho Bubject 

 was a race-horse of great value, and the tho- 

 rough-pin entirely disappeared in about two 

 weeks. In such cases the synovial fluid in tho 

 thorough -pin coagulates, and becomes orgauiaed 

 and firm." 



CAPPED HOCK 

 Is a largo swelling, rising at the point of tho 

 hock; and although seldom detrimental to tho 

 action of the horse is, however, very objection- 

 able to the eye. It is produced chiefly by kicks, 

 lying on hard stones, or other injuries to which 

 the point of the hock is so very liable. It is 

 sometimes hereditary. This may be taken as 

 proved from the following fact. A veterinary 

 surgeon was called in to see a horse, and was, 

 at the same time, requested to look at a brood 

 mare, and two of her colts, lying in a field close 

 at hand, which were considered of excellent 

 make and form. The dam was a known good 

 one. She was a light chestnut mare, and the 

 colts were of the same colour, one a three-year 

 old, but the other a yearling ; and all three, 

 dam and colts, were afi"ected with capped hocks. 

 There had been a colt, which would then have 

 been two years old, but it had been dead about 

 six months, and he had capped hocks too. 

 These were all got by difl'erent horses. This 

 goes a great way in proving that like begets 

 like. 



If capped hock is not relieved soon in its 

 early stage, it frequently becomes of consider- 

 able size, and what is strange, the skin seems 

 to thicken as it becomes larger. 



In treating for it in an early stage repellents 

 such as the following should be used — 



Sal-ammoniac 1 oz. 



Si)irits of Wine 1 do. 



Vinegar 8 do. 



Eub some of this lotion on the point of the 

 hock, nigiit and morning. Should this not 

 promote the absorption of the fluid, introduce 

 setons on each side of the hock, and keep the 

 discharge up for a fortnight, dressing every day 

 with digestive ointment, composed of 



Common Turpentine 4 oz. 



Hog's Lard 4 do 



Melt together over a slow fire, and dress the 

 setons with it, when these are changed every 

 morning. 



Should this not Lave the desired effect at 



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