Spavin and Thor-ough-pin. 221 



practice to insert under the skin a narrow-bladed bistoury, 

 and scarify the site of the spavin freely; and during the 

 treatment, which on an average will be two months, the 

 horse should be stabled and used very little. 



THOROUGHPIN. 



Definition. — A dropsicai enlargement of the sheath of the 

 tendon which passes along the upper and posterior side of 

 the hock joint (synovial eifusion in the bursa of the flexor 

 pedis perforans muscle). The disease receives its name be- 

 cause the fluid which fills it may by pressure be forced from 

 one side of the hock to the other. There is really no con- 

 nection between the joint of the hock and the sheath of the 

 tendon. Thorough-pin is a dropsical effusion in the latter; 

 bog spavin is a similar effusion in the former. 



Causes. — Thorough-pin is usually found in short, fleshy 

 horses, and those which have heavy loads to start, thus strain- 

 ing the tendon of the perforating muscle. 



Symptoms. — The distinctions pointed out in the definition 

 of the disease will serve to distinguish it from bog spavin, 

 which is the only disease with which it is liable to be con- 

 founded. 



Treatment, — The horse should wear a shoe with hi^rh 

 heels, and a spring truss be applied to the swelling, exerting 

 upon it steady compression. 



A more active plan, recommended by some, is to make a 



free puncture at the most dependent part of the swelling, and 



allow the whole of the fluid to drain off, keeping the j^unc- 



ture open for several days. Meanwhile the sack should be 



injected with a mild solution of sulphate of zinc (ten grains 



to the ounce of water), or with dilute tincture of iodine. 



No. 238. Tincture of iodine, 1 drachm. 



Whisky, 1 oz. 



Inject one or two teaspoonfuls. 



