166 THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 



Capped Hocks. 



The point of the hock is swelled, a soft fluctuating 

 tumor appears in it ; this is an enlargement of one of 

 those mucous bags of which I have spoken, and which 

 surrounds the insertion of the tendons into the point of 

 the hock. It is usually produced by blows, and in the 

 majority of instances, by injury which the horse inflicts 

 upon himself by kicking ; therefore, a horse with capped 

 hock, is properly regarded with a suspicious eye. It 

 also occurs sometimes by the bedding of the horse being 

 too thin, and the hock may be bruised in consequence, 

 and it may besides proceed from a sprain of the hock 

 joint. 



Blistering, fomentation, or any other treatment, will 

 not do ; if the case is inveterate, opening and dissecting, 

 by cutting out the small bag that contains the fluid, is 

 the only remedy. 



The Thorough Pin. 



Cause. — This usually takes place on account of 

 some particular weakness, or relaxation in the ligament 

 surrounding the joints, and when pressed by the finger 

 it disappears, but returns immediately again. 



Symptoms. — This is a soft flexible swelling, and 

 appears on the two opposite sides of the hock joint at 

 the same time ; being supposed to pass entirely thi'ough 

 the joint, thus deriving the name of thorough pin. 



Cure. — There is rarely much lameness produced by 

 this disease ; the most certain cure is blistering, composed 

 as follows : — 



Spanish Plies 4 drachms. 



Spirits of Turpentine 1 ounce. 



Hogs' Lard 4 ,, 



Mixed together. 



Have the blister rubbed in secondly, if required. If 

 this treatment does not eff'ect a cure, the animal should 

 be fired. 



