DISEASES AND INJURIES. 213 



Bog Spavin. 



This is not very common in light horses. It is a soft 

 swelling on the front and inner part of the hock, above the 

 seat of bone spavin, and is due to distension of the proper 

 capsule of the hock joint. When the distension is great, 

 there is also a swelling in the seat of thoroughpin, from the 

 joint capsule being pushed upward and backward. 



Bog spavin may appear without any assignable cause, but 

 there has generally been a sprain, or series of sprains of the 

 hock. Hunters in jumping, and stallions in covering are 

 liable to this injury, especially if the hock is short. 



Treatment. This should be similar to that recommended for 

 thoroughpin, the employment of the spring truss being even 

 more beneficial for this condition than for the one just men- 

 tioned. 



Wind Galls. 



Wind galls are merely distensions of the sheaths of tendons 

 below the knees and hocks, due either to rheumatism, sprain, 

 or hard work most frequently the last mentioned. They 

 may, or may not be accompanied by lameness ; if they are, 

 then the soft puffy swellings are hot, and painful on pres- 

 sure. They are most frequently seen about and immediately 

 above the fetlocks of both fore and hind limbs. 



Treatment. If there is lameness, then the treatment should 

 be as for sprain of the tendons ; but if there is no lameness, 

 but merely swelling, then equable pressure by means of ban- 

 dages firmly and evenly applied, is the simplest and readiest 

 treatment. Or if the horse can be rested for two or three 

 months, a " charge " placed on the legs will have a good effect. 



Cracked Heels. 



Cracked heels are usually the result of leaving the skin in 

 the hollow of the pasterns wet, especially in cold weather ; 



