CAPPED HOCKS. 177 



A dose of physic with cold bandages bound tightly 

 round the joints will reduce them ; but they will recur 

 again as soon as work has been recommenced ; there- 

 fore, no further treatment should be adopted than that 

 of applying a cold flannel bandage with two wet com- 

 presses of linen placed immediately on the swellings. 

 Happily, the old practice of puncturing the cysts has 

 long since been condemned as most dangerous and mis- 

 chievous, so that I need give no warning on this head. 



CAPPED HOCKS AND ELBOWS. 



Both these enlargements are produced by a swelling 

 of the bursae mucosse, and are usually consequent on a 

 bruise or severe blow. 



Kicking in the stable is the most prolific cause of 

 capped hocks, and when they become of a great size 

 they are very unsightly. 



The treatment consists in allaying the inflammation, 

 and afterwards reducing the swelling by applying 

 biniodide of mercury, as well as preventing a recurrence 

 of the mischief by the application of a common buckled 

 dog collar around the pastern joint, and attaching there- 

 to about twelve inches of a heavy iron chain, which by 

 bruising the legs when the horse kicks will prevent a 

 recurrence of the habit. 



A lotion consisting of tincture of arnica of the strength 

 of two ounces to the pint of water will be found bene- 

 ficial ; but a lotion composed of equal parts of white 



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