DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 229 



the joint, it seldom fails to produce lameness, which is often 

 of a permanent nature. Lameness, therefore, is not an inva- 

 riable symptom of exostosis ; for most splents, and many 

 ringbones, and even spavins, exist without lameness. When 

 this disease invades ligamentous structure, however, lameness 

 generally accompanies it — an effect we would refer to the ex- 

 cessive tenderness of the part. Should the tumor interfere^ 

 either from its bulk or situation, with the motions of joints, 

 muscles, or tendons, lameness is a concomitant, and often 

 irremediable symptom." 



It appears that various constitutional and local remedies 

 have been tried for the prevention and dispersion of exosto- 

 sis, viz., " the actual cautery, ammonia, cartharides, caustic, and 

 setons." The constitutional remedies are of the same destruc- 

 tive nature, and have but too often aggravated that which they 

 were intended to relieve : we do not believe that any specific 

 treatment has ever had the honor of curing these forms of 

 disease ; that course of treatment we have ever found the 

 most satisfactory that is calculated to promote the general 

 health by sanative means ; we cleanse the system, equalize 

 the circulation, and excite healthy action to the parts by stim- 

 ulants and counter-irritation, (if the parts are inactive;) poul- 

 tices, fomentations, &c, if there is pain, or increased action. 

 If this is done early, exostosis is easily arrested, unless an 

 hereditary taint is manifest. 



" The removal of exostosis by an operation, we are told, 

 has been performed with success, and no doubt there are 

 cases in which it may safely be performed ; yet it cannot be 

 successful on spavined horses, the natural termination of 

 spavin being anchylosis of the bones of the hock, and inter- 

 articular cartilage : a knowledge of this fact has led men to 

 suppose that Nature has turned a somerset ; and they endeavor 

 to set her right with the firing iron and the implements of 

 death ; whereas, if her intentions were aided, the result 

 would prove more satisfactory. 



Extravasation. The escape of blood or other fluids from 

 their proper vessels. 



Eye. (See part first.) 



