Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 533 



they constitute an unsoundness. They are more detrimental in horses 

 used for fast work than in heavy horses used for slow work. In the 

 great majority of cases, splints are only minor blemishes. Many 

 horses have them. Splints often appear in young horses and may be 

 absorbed shortly afterwards without treatment. The chief cause of 

 splint is concussion. Other causes are sprains and injuries or blows 

 on the cannon bone. No treatment should be given, as they but 

 rarely cause trouble. Blistering and firing are sometimes practiced. 



Sprung knees or buck knees. — This defective conformation may 

 be congenital or the result of heavy labor at too early an age, there 

 being retraction of the flexor tendons of the parts below the knee. 

 While not an unsoundness, it detracts from the usefulness and value, 

 especially in saddle horses. Horses with badly sprung knees may fall 

 even when standing at rest and unmolested. (See D in Fig. 158.) 



Stringhalt. — This disease comes under the general heading, chorea, 

 or St. Vitus dance. It is manifested by a sudden, involuntary jerking 

 up of one or both hind legs when the animal is walking or trotting. It 

 may be very slight in some horses, but increases with age. In some 

 the affected leg is caught up very violently and high, and then lowered 

 equally sudden and forcible. It is more often associated with a nervous 

 disposition than with a sluggish one. It is an incurable disease and 

 very considerably lessens the price. It is best detected by causing 

 the animal to back, or turning him around in his tracks first one way 

 and then the other. 



Swollen legs. — A swollen leg usually indicates disease, the causes 

 being many. It is also not uncommon in old horses, or those having 

 a sluggish circulation. It is not an unsoundness, but detracts from 

 the appearance and is highly undesirable. Treatment consists in 

 giving laxatives, saltpeter, and moderate exercise. 



Thoroughpin is similar to bog spavin; it is a swelling occurring at 

 the back and on top of the hock in that part known as the "hollows." 

 It is due to weakness of the capsular ligament and to hyper-secretion 

 of synovial fluid. It is round and smooth, and most apparent when 

 viewed from behind. The swelling is usually on both sides and a 

 little in front of the hamstring. When pressed on one side, further 

 distention occurs on the opposite side. It seldom causes lameness. 

 Treatment is the same as for bog spavin. Thoroughpin is not a serious 

 ailment, being usually only an eyesore, although many horsemen con- 

 sider it an unsoundness. 



Thrush is a disease of the cleft of the frog which may cause lame- 

 ness. It is usually the result of negligence, the result of uncleanliness. 

 The cleft of the frog becomes suppurating and moist, and there is a 

 very rank odor. Treatment consists in washing, disinfecting, drying, 



