DISEASES AND AII.MKNTS OF IfORSES, ET('. Ill 



spavin, should have one of the liorse's forefeet lield 

 up during the examiiuition. There are other sorts 

 of spavins, called bog spavin and also blood spavin ; 

 these are not hard or bony excrescences, but look 

 like wind galls or bladders, and are occasioned by 

 hard work — such a defect is not unsoundness in 

 itself ; if a horse is lame from such a cause when 

 sold with a wan-anty it would be, but many horses 

 throw out these puffy excrescences both on the 

 hind and forelegs, without ever suffering any in- 

 convenience from them. 



CuRH. — A cui'b is an enlargement or lump at Curb, 

 the back of the hock of a horse, generally about 

 three or foiu- inches below the point of that joint. 

 A horse with a curb is unsound, although not 

 lame ; in fact, many horses with curbs are not 

 lamo. If a horse is sold with a general warranty 

 and has a ciu-b, the animal can be returned to the 

 seller. If llic curb be pointed out at the time of 

 sale it will be a special warranty, and the buyer 

 must look out. It is seldom that both hocks of a 

 horse are similarly cm-bed ; if, therefore, the buyer 

 stand at right angles to a horse behind and sees 

 this swelling or enlargement, he should require a 

 warranty against futiu'e lameness within a reason- 

 able period, as well as against present lameness. 

 Veterinary surgeons call a certain kind of hock a 

 curby hock, and allege that horses with hind legs 

 of that character invariablv tlirow out curbs at 



