302 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Treatment. When the injury is severe and the lameness acute, the 

 horse must be placed in a state of absolute rest, and the part well fomented 

 with hot water every three or four hours, and a hot bandage should be 

 worn in the intervals. Strain on the injured structures should be removed 

 by applying a high-heeled shoe to the foot and directing the weight towards 

 the toe. A dose of physic and a temporary reduction of the corn ration 

 will assist in dispersing existing inflammation. When this has been done 

 a blister or two, with rest, will suffice to reduce the swelling. It is 

 seldom that this is altogether removed, but where active treatment is 

 promptly applied a great reduction may be effected in it. Hand-rubbing 

 the part repeatedly with even pressure is often attended with benefit. 



In cases where the 

 injury is slight, irri- 

 gation with cold water 

 for a day or two, 

 followed by a blister 

 and a short rest, is 

 all that is needed. 



Where the en- 

 largement is consider- 

 able and lameness 

 continues after these 

 measures have been 

 carried out, firing either by the puncturing or lining method will require 

 to be adopted. 



Young horses predisposed to curb should be carefully conditioned 

 under slow exercise before being put to work. 



In the laudable endeavour to restrict the spread of hereditary diseases 

 in horses, the Royal Commission of Horse-breeding drew up a schedule 

 of diseases, the existence of any one of which should disqualify a thorough- 

 bred sire from receiving a premium. The list of disqualifying ailments 

 included spavin, ring-bone, side-bone, diseases of the feet, cataract, roar- 

 ing, and whistling, but curb, one of the most hereditary of horse diseases, 

 had no place in it. It was not surprising, therefore, to find that a large 

 percentage of the rejections at a recent show of the Hunters' Improvement 

 Society were on account of curbs. It is no excuse for such a course to 

 say, as has been said by some, that the lameness resulting from this 

 disease sooner or later passes away, since the fact remains that it con- 

 stitutes unsoundness, and largely depreciates the value of its victims. 



1, Good hock with curb. 



Fig. 370. Curb 

 2, Bad hock without curb. 



3, Bad hock with curb. 



