122 ORANGE COUNTY 



curable ; the lameness may be in part or entirely cured, 

 but the spavin cannot be radically removed. The 

 principal cause of the disease may be found in breed- 

 ing from old, broken down, spavin mares and worthless 

 studs ; but the exciting or immediate cause is sti'ain, 

 injury, over-work, &g. 



The weight and concussion being thrown principally 

 on the inner splent-bone, produce inflammation of the 

 cartilagenous substance that unites it to the shank- 

 bone. In consequence of it, the cartilage is absorbed 

 and bone deposited ; the union between the splent- 

 bone and the shank becomes bony, instead of cartila- 

 genous ; the degree of elastic action between them is 

 destroyed, and there is formed a splent of the hind 

 leg. The disposition to form bony matter having 

 commenced, bone continues to be deposited, and it 

 generally appears in the form of a tumor, where the 

 head of the splent-bone is united Avith the shank, and 

 in front of that union. This is called bone spavin. 

 Inflammation of the ligaments of any of the small 

 bones of the hock, proceeding to bony tumor, would 



