AVOUNDS, BRUISES, AND ABSCESS. 287 



The subject was a race horse of great value, and the thorouo-h- 

 pin entirely disappeared in about ten weeks. In some cases, the 

 synovial fluid in the thorough-pin coagulates, and becomes or- 

 ganised and firm. — Ed.] 



Curb. 



This is a swelling in the back and lower part of the hock, 

 extending from five to eight inches ; the centre of the swelling 

 being about eight inches from the point to the os calcis. [The 

 curb is, in its nature, similar to a strain in the back sinews, and 

 depends upon a strain and inflammation of the strong ligament 

 that passes from the os calcis down the back of the hock to the 

 shank bone, and frequently involving the flexor sinews at the 

 same time. When the horse is thrown too much on his haunches, 

 this part is unduly exerted, and a strain and lameness is the 

 consequence. Some horses are predisposed to curbs from the 

 shape of their hocks. 



If there be much inflammation, blood should be taken from 

 the thigh vein, a patten shoe put on, and the part kept wet with 

 a cooling lotion, after which it should be fired or blistered, the 

 former being by far the most efl"ectual plan : the employment, 

 however, of the compound iodine ointment will be found of 

 much service. — Ed.] 



CHAP. LI. 



AVOUNDS, BRUISES, AND ABSCESS. 



These injuries may happen in various ways, by kicks, by bites, 

 in leaping over hedges or gates, by kicking against stalls, and 

 many other ways. Various names have been applied to such 

 injuries, according to the manner in which they are inflicted. 

 [Thus we have punctured, lacerated, contused, or simple incised 

 wounds. They differ, likewise, according to the part injured, 

 whether muscle, sinew, skin, or bone. In the horse, the healing 

 process is very powerful : the most extensive injuries heal in a 

 short space of time ; and there is less danger than in the human 

 being of the wound becoming unhealthy. 



Wounds of the muscles or flesh heal much more rapidly than 

 in any other part, whilst those of the skin are pai*ticularly te- 

 dious ; thus, in many wounds, we may judge of the time that 

 will elapse before the part gets well by the quantity of new skin 

 required. This is owing to the circumstance that new skin does 

 not grow in the middle of a wound, but only from the edges, 

 which thus renders cicatrisation a very tedious process. New 



