192 AMEKICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



part of the neck. The animal fell dead at his feet. The 

 great spinal nerve was undoubtedly broken. 



Poll-evil does not often so seriously affect the general 

 health of the horse as does fistula, being further removed 

 from those < great vital organs, the lungs and heart; yet it 

 is marked by great suffering, which the least observant spec- 

 tator can not help perceiving. 



TREATMENT. 



Follow the same directions as those given in the last sec- 

 tion for fistula. Before matter has formed, use the corrosive 

 liniment; after that period, the May-apple liniment. The 

 difficulties attending the treatment of this disease are the 

 same as those accompanying cases of fistula, and the same 

 barbarous means were formerly employed for its cure. 



BOa AND BLOOD SPAVIN. 



Bog spavin has its location in the membrane investing the 

 hock-joint, and in the little oil-sacks so plentifully supplied 

 to this part of the horse's frame. Although at the expense 

 of some repetition of what has been said in Chapter III, when 

 treating of bone spavin, it will be befet to consider the struct- 

 ure of the joint, and the uses of these little oil-sacks, before 

 proceeding further. 



The various joints of the body which are most in use and 

 have the greatest degree of motion are furnishe4 with large, 

 strong tendons, as they obviously need to be. Attached to 

 the extremities of the tendons, and between them and the 

 bones, as also between the tendons themselves, are little bags, 

 or sacks, containing an oily, mucous secretion, whose office it 

 is to prevent friction when the parts are in rapid motion, or 

 are otherwise severely strained. The tendons upon the inside 

 of the hock, at the head of the inner splint-bone, and uniting 

 the metatarsals (see 45 and 46, in cut on page 24) with the 

 tibia (see 38 in same cut), are of unusual size and strength, in 

 order to perform the severe labor to which they are subjected. 

 It is reasonable to expect that here the oil-sacks should be 



