DISEASES OF THE BONES. 91 



V 



Another remedy for bone spavin, and one possessing con- 

 siderable merit, is the mercurial salve. (See Chapter XXIY.) 

 The parts over the spavin bunches should be anointed with 

 this salve each morning, using either the finger or a small 

 mop. It will be found best to dry it in with a hot iron. If 

 the finger is used, it should be washed as soon as done, as the 

 ointment may injure the nails. This remedy will require 

 several weeks for its perfect action, and must be continued, 

 with the same intervals of omission, as when the corrosive 

 liniment is employed. 



Ko after-treatment will be needed, except good care gen- 

 erally, and rest. 



The whole treatment of spavin is simple and plain, yet far 

 from being always efibctual. Upon no account let the owner, 

 suffer the chisel or mallet to be used for the removal of the 

 knobs, or bunches ; nor, if he lays any claim to human feel- 

 ing, should he think of permitting such barbarous practices 

 as burning with a red-hot iron, or with the horn and hot 

 mush of ashes, nor of consenting to that most cruel savagery 

 of all, the employment of arsenic. 



ILLUSTRATIVE CASES. 



Two examples, taken from a large number which occurred 

 within the author's practice, will serve to illustrate the differ- 

 ent stages of bone spavin. The first happened in 1852, and 

 was that of a fine young mule belonging to Mr. Joseph 

 Holiman, of Gibson County, Tennessee. The swelling was 

 on the left hind leg, the lump being about half the size of a 

 hen's egg. There was considerable soreness of the joint, 

 attended with fever; otherwise, the animal was in excellent 

 condition. Four ounces of the corrosive liniment were used. 

 Treatment was continued about a month, the patient, mean- 

 while, having perfect rest, after which he was turned out to 

 pasture. At the end of another month he was put to light 

 work, which was gradually increased in severity until he re- 

 turned to all his old duties again. He never showed any 

 signs of lameness afterward. 



