511 



WIND GALLS, BOG- SPAVIN, AND THOROUGH PIN. 



Wind Galls, Bog Spavin, and Thorough Pins, are all 

 affections of a closely similar nature. They essentially consist 

 of an abnormal amount of synovia, which collects within the 

 bursas of the tendons of both the fore and hind limbs ; and also 

 enlargement of the bursal and synovial membranes of the 

 hock. 



The bursal enlargement, when situate in the synovial tissues 

 contiguous to the fetlock joints, is called a Wind Gall ; a Bog 

 Spavin, when present at the inferior and anterior part of the 

 hock (see y, e, c, Fig. 30, page 502) ; and a Thorough Pin, when 

 the synovial sac is distended, which is situate at the superior 

 and posterior region of the hock, or between the os calcis and 

 and the tibia (see Fig. 30, i h, page 502. 



Wind Galls, Bog Spavin, and Thorough Pins, are consi- 

 dered (but erroneously so), to be frequent causes of lameness. 

 The real cause of lameness, in these cases, is dependant upon 

 that condition of the tissues which is the cause of the bursal 

 distention. Bursal distention is merely an effect of morbid 

 excitement existing within the synovial tissues of the locality 

 affected, the cause of which is injury from over-exertion. 



Teeatment. — The removal of a Wind Gall, a Bog Spavin, 

 or a Thorough Pin, is a very simple affair. Open them with a 

 lancet and they are gone in a moment. Not so, however, with 

 the morbid condition existing within the synovial membranes ; 

 to subdue this is altogether a different affair. 



The old writers on farriery recommend Firing and Blis- 

 tering as remedies for these maladies. So far, however, as my 

 experience goes, I never saw the least benefit, in cases of this 

 kind, from either the one or the other ; but I have, on nume- 

 rous occasions, known very aggravated cases of bursal distention 



