I 



DISEASES OF THE MUSCLES AND TENDONS. 195 



This singularly inappropriate name had its origin in the fool- 

 ish notion of the farriers, in former times, that the swelling 

 was filled with air. 



In their nature and causes, wind-galls are thus seen to be 

 the same disorder as spavin. But the oil-sacks which are 

 injured in the former, are neither so large nor so numerous as 

 in spavin ; and, more than this, such irritation and inflamma- 

 tion as is constantly kept up at the joint by the movements 

 of the limbs, scarcely affect the parts where wind-galls ap- 

 pear. Hence the latter never become at all serious affairs, 

 and seldom impede motion in the least degree. They may 

 possibly disfigure the limbs somewhat, and are often evidences 

 of hard usage and bad treatment ; but, for every essential pur- 

 pose, the horse is as good as before. When there are several 

 of them, or if they become unusually large, it is generally an 

 indication that the animal lacks suppleness of joint and limb, 

 and will move heavily. Even in this case, however, he will 

 do as well in the plow or wagon as ever he could. 



As we have intimated, wind-galls are caused by either a 

 bruise or a very severe strain — ^most commonly the former. 

 Such a degree of compression by the tendons as must be 

 necessary to crush and burst open any of the oil-sacks, can 

 only result from a most terrible strain ; and yet there can 

 be no doubt that it is not unfrequently produced. It is easy 

 to see that a comparatively light blow, directly upon the 

 point where the sack is situated, resting upon the bone or 

 a firm, unyielding tendon, may readily do the mischief. An 

 egg, when the ends are placed between the palms of the 

 hands, will bear a pressure of fifty pounds, yet a faint blow 

 will break the shell. So with the little oil-sack ; and hardly 

 a day passes in which the legs of the horse do not receive 

 blows, which, if they fall upon the exact spot, are sufficient 

 to do the injury. - 



TREATMENT. 



Wind-galls are never removed without great difficulty, 

 and often they defy the most persevering treatment. There 



