HORSES. 15 



marked tumor, the pain and lameness may be relieved by the 

 moderate application of the tincture of cantharides. But some 

 cases will not recover until the Blister has been applied, 

 when that intervening cartilage will be converted into bone ; 

 then the cure is done. 



When exostosis attacks the tarsus or instep just below tlie 

 hock-joint, it is called spavin. The first symptoms in this 

 form of the disease are not usually recognized in their true 

 light, and the horse is urged on in its daily toil until tlie pain 

 becomes so excruciating that the poor creature can no longer 

 endure such suffering. In a majority of cases this disease 

 occurs from hereditary transmission. It is more frequent 

 than ringbone, inasmuch as its predisposition is more easily 

 awakened by an exciting cause. » 



The six bones of the tarsus are separated from each other 

 by a layer of inter-articulating cartilage, and the undue pres- 

 sure which is brought to bear upon tliis part of the limb when 

 the horse is heavily laden upon the ascending pavement, 

 causes more or less irritation, and tlius congestion and infiam- 

 niation ensues. 



The first two tarsal bones tliat grow together in this disease 

 are those which anatomists have called the scaphoid and the en- 

 toeuniforyn. In fact it is rare to fiiid an old dray-horse in which 

 these bones are not consolidated in one, even when there is 

 no sign of disease among the otlier tarsal bones. But if the 

 disease is not arrested here, either by a resolution of Nature 

 or by treatment, it usually involves the adjoining parts in the 

 same inflammation, and thus ultimately anchylose the entire 

 tarsus, together with two splints and the cannon-bone, in firm 

 and indissoluble union. Such a case is beyond the help of 

 the Healing Art, and any attempt to '' cure'' will exhibit the 

 ignorance or deception of its vain pretender. 



The general plan of treatment for Spavin is the same as 

 for Ringbone and other lorms of exostosis. In the early stage 

 of the disease is your onlij hope of cure. But when the dis- 

 ease has advanced to that degree where new bone begins to 

 be formed within tlie cartilage and periosteum, it is hard to 

 be controlled ; even then it may l)e partially arrested in its 



