82 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AN1> SURGERY. 



Btringlialt horses are the subjects of ulcerative disease of the hock< 

 joint, and they finally become sprained. 



In such cases, it is possible that stringhalt may be the result of 

 bock disease, which irritates the nerves in the vicinity of the part, 

 and thus affects that portion of the nervous system which controls 

 the muscles concerned. Andral tells us that " chorea, like epi- 

 lepsy, may be excited by irritation." Hence, in the commencement 

 of sp'ivin, or so soon as osseous incrustations are thrown out, the^ 

 may, during the active motion of the joint, produce local irritation, 

 of nervous filaments, in the vicinity, which irritation maybe com- 

 municated to larger and more important nerves, and thus induce 

 stringhalt. 



We all know that local irritation produced by the prick of a 

 nail, or sometimes docking and pricking, is often productive of 

 locked-jaw, simply because some nervous or tendinous structure 

 is injured; and so the local irritation in the region of the hock 

 may be productive of the malady now under consideration. The 

 author has paid considerable attention to this subject, and is con- 

 vinced that almost all horses of the nerv^ous or excitable tempera- 

 ment, the subjects of inter-articular spavin, manifest more or lesa 

 catching-up of the limb (stringhalt) at some period during the 

 progress of spavin, and that when the bones of the hock are 

 anchylosed (united), and the motion and irritation of the parts 

 have ceased, the stringhalt becomes modified. The reader, how- 

 ever, must not receive this opinion as absolute; for at times, in 

 consequence of some peculiar idiosyncrasy, the stringhalt gradu- 

 ally grows worse. Among some members of the human famil y, 

 of the peculiar temperament to receive the impression, almost at;y 

 thing v.'hich makes a forcible impression upon the nervous system 

 may act as an exciting cause of chorea. The subject is a very 

 important one, and most veterinary writers of the English school 

 Jave rather mystified the subject, and at last have come to the 

 conclusion that the disease is incurable. This was formerly the 

 author's opinion, but a change has taken place in his sentiments, 

 and he is unwilling to deprive the afflicted animal of the benefits 

 of progressive science. More light on the subject may enable na 

 to effect many cases of cure ; at least it will enable us better to 

 understand the pathology of the case, which is an important 

 step in the right direction. In view, therefore, of furnishing the 

 reader with some useful information, whether he be a veterinary 



