Spa y/Ars. 



591 



of otlier tendons and ligaments. It commonly renders the horse lame, but not invariably. If 

 lame, the only remedy is firing, blistering will do harm. 



Bog spavin is an enlarged and dropsical condition of the capsule of the principal joint 

 of the hock ; the swelling is soft, and seen in front of the joint, inclined to the inner side ; it 

 is the result, in some cases, of sprain of the hock-joint, but in other instances it is due to the 

 effects of concussion to the joint. When the swelling is only moderate and easily yields to 

 pressure, it seldom causes defective action, but when large and hard it will give rise to lameness, 

 which generally proves of an obstinate character. 



Windgalls is a term given to soft swellings which make their appearance on the inner 

 and outer surface of the fetlock-joints ; they occur to both the hind and fore limbs ; they may 

 arise from sprain of the fetlock-joints, but in by far the majority of instances they are owing 

 to concussion, produced by travelling on hard roads. Horses so affected commonly indicate 

 less freedom of action, but, unless very hard, windgalls seldom cause actual lameness. 



The principles of treatment which should be carried out in these four last-named affections 

 are very similar to those advocated in cases of sprain of the flexor tendons ; if the cases are 

 of a recent nature and associated with lameness, steps should be taken as described to reduce 

 the acute inflammatory action, and subsequently the more active measures, viz., blistering or 

 firing, or both, should be resorted to, severely or otherwise, as the case may demand. In the 

 diseases affecting the hock, the use of a high-heeled shoe is always attended with advantage. 

 In thoro'pin continual pressure evenly applied will sometimes reduce the swelling and 

 bring about recovery, while with windgalls considerable reduction, and in some cases complete 

 removal of them, may be brought about by the continual application of woollen bandages, 

 placed on moderately tight when the horse is not at work. 



Much advantage is gained, in my opinion, from the use of dry woollen bandages to horses' 

 legs, not laid on too tight, when standing in the stable ; they support the circulation in the 

 extremities, and in this and other ways act as a preventive to those maladies which are 

 indicative of wear in the legs. 



Splint consists of a transformation of the ligamentous tissue which unites the small splint 

 bone to the canon bone, and is nearly always associated with enlargement produced by a 

 morbid growth of bone. In the fore-legs it nearly always occurs on the inner side ; when 

 seen in the hind, where it is nothing like so common, it is usually on the outer side. It is 

 one of the most common of maladies affecting the legs of the horse, and generally forms early 

 in life, usually immediately on the animal being called upon to perform work. It is often the 

 result of hereditary taint, but readily takes place as an effect of concussion or of a blow. While 

 the disease is going on lameness is commonly attendant, but not always. It may be detected 

 by the presence of the enlargement, and by pain being evinced when pressure is imparted 

 to the seat of it. When the enlargement is situated well forward, and not close to the knee 

 on the canon, the splint is not of so serious a nature as otherwise ; in the latter case they 

 occasionally interfere with the action of the knee or of the suspensory ligament, and permanent 

 lameness results. Splint lameness in most cases is successfully treated by applying a mild 

 blister over the inner part of the leg ; but should this fail, firing with a pointed iron, an 

 operation which creates but little blemish, will bring about the desired result. 



Bone-spavin consists of a morbid growth of bone on the external surfaces of the small 

 bones on the inner side of the hock. It is often hereditary, but also arises from similar exciting 

 causes to those giving rise to splint. " The symptoms of spavin arc an unnatural formation 

 of bone, usually in one of the hocks — a stiff dragging action of the hind-leg — the toe 



