37 



enlargement outside the bone (See Plate VII., No. 5) These cases 

 are difticnlt to detect, as httle or nothing can be seen or felt outside. 

 A decision, therefore, can only be arrived at by judging the movement 

 of the joint, which, in such cases, is generally carried stiffly with a 

 round-about action of the toe inwards. In cases of doubt, lift 

 the foot, take hold of the toe, and press the front of the fetlock 

 against the stifle joint for two or three minutes, then make the animal 

 trot ; if it goes very lame and only puts the toe to the ground, the 

 lameness gradually disappearing with the exercise, it may be concluded 

 that spavin is developing. In some cases a bone spavin may be 

 patent both to the eye and touch, and yet the horse goes sound and 

 does his work correctly. To detect bone spavin, stand about one foot 

 sideways from the animal's shoulder, and look diagonally across the 

 lower and inner part of the hock joint, and compare the joints. When 

 the inflammation is extensive it may terminate in caries or ulceration, 

 as when two or more of the bones of the joint become involved ; this 

 as a rule may be looked upon as incurable, thus showing how 

 necessary it is that entire rest and carefnl treatment should he early adopted. 



ii6. The Treatment of Bone Spavin is the same as laid down for 

 splint and ring bone (See pars. 109 and 112) ; but if there is one thing 

 more than another that firing has a decided benefit upon, it is Bone 

 Spavin, as it hurries the inflammatory action forward to a healthy 

 termination. It must be bornein mindthat when we have any extensive 

 accidents or disease of the bones and joints, the muscles surrounding, 

 or above the injury, waste away, and take a long time before they 

 resume their proper standard and tone. 



117. In connection with the diseases of the bones, special attention 

 may be given to Plate VII., and the text explanatory of the different 

 figures, particularly to the anchylosis of the three bones of the spinal 

 column, or back bone ; also the Ring Bone, the bones of the hock, 

 and occult spavin ; while the mark x on figure 3 shows the point of 

 true splint, and the figures 6, 7, and 8 are good specimens of side 

 bones, or ossification of the lateral cartilages of the foot. 



