Spavin. 173 



a tumor, where the head of the splent-bone is united 

 with the shank, and in front of that union. This is called 

 bone spavin. Inflammation of the ligaments of any of 

 the small bones of the hock, proceeding to bony tumor, 

 would equally class under the name of spavin ; but com- 

 monly, the disease commences on the precise spot that 

 has been described. 



Symptoms. — While spavin is forming there is generally 

 lameness and sometimes very great but not entirely to unfit 

 him for work ; the lameness sometimes abates and entirely 

 disappears, by a little exercise, but when the membrane 

 of the bone has accommodated itself to the tumor that 

 extended it, lameness subsides or disappears, or depends 

 upon the degree which the bony deposit interfered with 

 the motion of the joint. Sometimes there is no tumor ; 

 then if a sort of regular lameness has existed for some 

 months, referable to no other joint than the hock, and the 

 difficulty has of late gradually increased, so that the joint 

 appears stiff, the critter is there, after which we may 

 expect to observe a tumor on the inside of the hock. 

 A tumor once formed in the region already referred to 

 needs no wise man to point it out ; it can be both seen 

 and felt ; and this, accompanied with hock lameness and 

 ligamentary tumefaction, is the symptom of spavin in its 

 exostotic stage. 



Treatment. — For bog or blood spavin, which is a dis- 

 tended state of the sub-cutaneous veins in the region of the 

 hock, the power of the blood is partially arrested, which 

 causes the soft tumor on the hock. The remedy in the 

 early stage, coy. water and refrigerating lotions ; in the 

 later stages, strong infusion of bayberry bark ; and lastly, 

 brandy and salt, perseveringly applied. Congestion may 

 be treated in the same manner, aided by friction. 



The horse, as soon as the lameness or dry signs of dis- 

 ease are perceptible, should have rest, and cooling appli- 

 cations should be applied. Dr. Dadd says : Our usual 

 remedy in the early stage is muriatic acid, 4 ounces, water, 

 2 quarts, tincture of bloodroot, 6 ounces. Applied daily 

 by means of a sponge, as follows : Take a piece of sponge, 



