230 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



then look through between its fore legs and see 

 if the joints of the hock are the same. If you can- 

 not discover anything, then stand at the horse's 

 shoulder and look to the opposite hind leg, then do 

 the same on the other side, and see if both joints 

 are the same from that direction; then rub the 

 hand down over the well one first, then over the 

 suspected one to feel if there is any difference. If 

 none is found, then you may conclude that the 

 horse has what is termed an occult spavin; that is, 

 the kind of spavin in which the cartilages between 

 the bones are affected. To detect this form of 

 spavin it will be necessary to take the horse out on 

 the road. One man takes him by the halter, and 

 has him ready to start on the trot when wanted. 

 The examiner lifts up the lame leg. If it is the 

 right hind leg he will put his right arm on the in- 

 side of the leg, the point of the hock resting under 

 the arm-pit. Then clasp both hands around the 

 flexed fetlock, then press on the point of the hock 

 with the arm-pit; at the same time the arms will 

 brace the fetlock joint. Then by moving the leg- 

 backward and forward you will bring considerable 

 force on the hock joint, then drop the leg and start 

 the horse off on a trot, and if the hock is the part 

 affected it will start off very lame, or in some cases 

 on three legs. If this is properly done it will indi- 

 cate to you without doubt that the lameness is in 

 the hock joint. 



Treatment: A number of cases of bone-spavin 

 can be cured. Those that are low down on the 

 joint are usually curable. Those high up, involv- 



