528 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



They are frequent in the horse, especially following a frost, the mois- 

 ture from the thaw favoring this. It is similar to chapped hands, and 

 fissuring is favored by the movements in the hollow of the heels. 

 Treatment consists of the application of a soothing liniment applied 

 daily with tow and bandage. 



Curb is an unnatural prominence of variable size, located on the 

 posterior border of the hock, four or five inches below the point of the 

 hock. It is easily detected by viewing the joint in profile. It is caused 

 by a sprain of the tendon which passes over that part, or of the strong 

 ligament located there. Hocks that are sickled, coarse, and thick in 

 appearance, or that are too narrow from front to back at their base, 

 most often develop curbs. Violent efforts in heavy pulling, high jump- 

 ing, or slipping are often the direct cause of curb. Curbs do not often 

 cause lameness, or, if they do, it is usually during the formative stage. 

 Legally it is an unsoundness, although it is not much of a detriment, 

 especially in horses for slow work. Curbs are much less serious than 

 bone spavins, ringbones, sidebones, cocked ankles, and stringhalt. 



A I IB 



Fig. 211.— Curb. A, Sound hock; B, curb. 



Treatment in the early stages consists of cold applications to relieve 

 the acute inflammation. When the first stage has passed, blistering, 

 frictions with ointments, and firing are often used with good success. 



Fistula is an ulcerous lesion found at the withers. Fistulas follow 

 as a result of abscesses, bruises, wounds, or long-continued irritation by 

 the harness or saddle. The pus burrows and finds lodgment deep 

 down between the muscles. The horse becomes incapacitated for 

 work for a considerable period. Most cases are curable. The treat- 

 ment is largely surgical; the animal should be placed in the care of a 

 competent veterinarian as soon as the condition is discovered. After 

 the fistula is healed, a scar usually remains in the region of the withers. 

 A horse that has had fistula is liable to subsequent attacks of the same 

 trouble. 



Founder or laminitis is a simple inflammation of the fleshy laminae 

 within the hoof. Being exceedingly vascular, the laminae are subject 

 to congestion, and, being enclosed within the hoof, there is very little 

 room for the relief of the congestion. The animal suffers most agoniz- 

 ing pain. Concussion is one of the most common causes. Another is 



