DISEASES AND INJURIES. 217 



Curb. 



Curb is a sprain to the back part of the hock, at the upper 

 part of the shank bone, and is manifested by a convexity or 

 bulging, which is best seen when the hock is looked at side- 

 ways. It is often caused quite suddenly in jumping or 

 slipping, and then there will probably be considerable lame- 

 ness at first. Thin, short hocks, narrow at the bottom and 

 somewhat angular, are most predisposed to curb. 



Treatment. When the sprain first occurs and there is lame- 

 ness, the horse must be rested, a high-heeled shoe applied to 

 the foot, and the hock fomented for a few days. Then a little 

 biniodide of mercury ointment should be rubbed into the 

 swelling, and repeated after an interval of a week. In about 

 a fortnight the high-heeled shoe may be replaced by the 

 ordinary one, and the horse allowed exercise every day. 



Capped Hocks. 



Capped hocks are the result of contusions, and rarely cause 

 any amount of lameness, though they are unsightly. 



Treatment. If the injury is recent, and there is soreness and 

 lameness, the contused hock should be fomented with warm 

 water for two or three days, then treated with lead lotion. 

 When the swelling becomes chronic, it may receive one or 

 two applications of biniodide of mercury ointment ; or a thick 

 layer of soft pipeclay may be spread over it every day. 



Injuries to the Foot. 



The foot is more exposed to injury than any other part of 

 the body. The most frequent injuries are treads, contu- 

 sions, wounds from sharp objects while travelling on the 

 road, pricks and bruises in shoeing, splitting of the hoof 

 (sandcrack), bruise of the sole, corn, &c. 



When the injury occurs to a part enclosed in the hoof, 

 it is generally necessary to relieve the sensitive parts from 



