36? 1'HE FARM DOCTOR. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE TRUE HOCK JOINT. BOG SPAVIN. 



Inflammation of the upper or principal joint of the hock, 

 where nearly all the movement takes place, occurs from over- 

 work, sprains, rheumatism, punctures, wounds, fractures, etc. 

 There is a puffy fluctuating swelling with heat and tenderness 

 on the antero-internal side of the upper part of the joint, where 

 in the natural state there is a hollow or depression. There is 

 also a similar swelling behind in the seat of thorougk-pi?i, but 

 distinguishable in that it can be pressed forward by compres- 

 sion, the anterior swelling meanwhile filling up, but there results 

 no swelling below and behind the hock as in thorough-pin. 

 The lameness resembles that of bone spavm, but there is per- 

 haps more tendency to a jerking up of the limb. The disease 

 may go onto ulceration of the joint, to bony deposit, and even 

 to anchylosis with abolition of all movement 



Treatment. — Rest, and use a high-heeled shoe. In case of 

 very violent inflammation use soothing measures (fomentation), 

 and when extreme heat and tenderness have subsided use 

 blisters as for bone spavin, or still better, the hot iron applied 

 lightly at nearly a white heat. 



Open joint is to be treated here as elsewhere, an active blister 

 being often of great advantage in arresting movement, closing 

 the wound, and abating inflammation. 



Bog spavin is most obstinate in old animals and in rheu- 

 matic constitutions with cracking of the joints in starting a 

 walk. 



DROPSY OF THE HOCK JOINT. BOG SPAVIN. 



An excessive secretion of joint-oil, from over-exertion, or a 

 dropsical effusion into the cavity of the joint produces a swell- 

 ing having all the characters described above, but without heat, 

 tenderness, or lameness. It may sometimes be benefited by a 

 blister or even by a bandage wet wjth some strong astringent 



