WINDGALLS. 479 



to occasion mischief, it can only be remedied effectually by 

 removal. This may be effected by carefully including the 

 vein, and the vein alone, above and below the enlargement, 

 within ligatures, by means of curved needles. The opera- 

 tion is performed without dividing the skin, and the ligatures 

 are left to slough out. After which the tumefied vein may 

 be opened, and the contents evacuated. But it should be 

 remarked that, in five hundred cases of what is called blood 

 spavin, it would not, perhaps, be actually necessary to take 

 up the vein in but one of them. 



DISEASED ENLARGEMENT OF THE BURS^E MUCOSAE, OR 

 WINDGALLS. 



The tendons of those muscles connected with or passing 

 over joints are furnished with membranous bags, called 

 hiirscB mucos(E. These capsules are distributed about all the 

 joints ; but, in a practical point of view, some are more im- 

 portant than others. The morbid enlargement of these 

 constitutes windgalls. Violent and long-continued exer- 

 tions determine more blood to the extremities, and, from its 

 greater supply, the synovial secretion is augmented ; thus it 

 is that windgalls are almost the invariable attendant on hard 

 work. While the swellings remain small, they can do little 

 mischief, and had much better be let alone : but when they 

 become enormously enlarged, they may produce injurious 

 effects fi'om the unequal pressure they occasion ; and, also, 

 by a sympathetic effect on themselves, their contents become 

 not only increased, but diseased, proving frequently inspis- 

 sated or thick. 



In the treatment of windgalls we must attend to three 

 particulars ; the removal of any diseased alteration they may 

 have occasioned in the neighbouring parts ; the removal of 

 their own distention ; and the prevention of its recurrence. 

 Stimulating applications are the most likely to produce a 

 removal of any coagulating deposit ; these are likewise still 

 more proper, as they will tend to effect a removal of the 

 contents of the windgall itself. The liquid blister will be 

 very proper for this purpose. But simply to promote 

 absorption of the contents of the windgall, continued pres- 

 sure will be found the most convenient and efficacious 

 remedy. A calico or a flannel roller may be prepared, of 



