388 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



consequence either of concussion or sprain of the pastern - 

 joints. It is also more frequent in the hind foot than the 

 fore, because, from the violent action of the hind legs in 

 propelling the horse forward, the pasterns are more subject to 

 ligamcntary injury behind than before ; yet the lameness is 

 not so great there, because the disease is confined principally 

 to the ligaments, and the bones have not been injured by con- 

 cussion ; while from the position of the fore limbs, there will 

 generally be in them injury of the bones to be added to that 

 of the ligaments. In its early stage, and when recognised 

 only by a bony enlargement on both sides of the pastern-joint, 

 or in some few cases on one side only, the lameness is not 

 very considerable, and it is not impossible to remove the 

 disease by active blistering, or by the application of the 

 cautery ; but there is so much wear and tear in this part of 

 the animal, that the inflammation and the disposition to the 

 formation of bone rapidly spread. The pasterns first become 

 connected together by bone instead of ligament, and thence 

 results what is called an anchylosed or fixed joint. From 

 this joint the disease proceeds to the cartilages of the foot, 

 and to the union between the lower pastern, and the coffin 

 and navicular bones. The motion of these parts likewise is 

 impeded or lost, and the whole of the foot becomes one mass 

 of spongy bone. 



ENLARGEMENT OF THE HOCK. First, there is inflamma- 

 tion, or sprain of the hock-joint generally, arising from sudden 

 violent concussion, by some check at speed, or over-weight, 

 and attended with enlargement of the whole joint, and great 

 tenderness and lameness. This, however, like all other dif- 

 fused inflammations, is not so untractable as an intense one 

 of a more circumscribed nature, and by rest and fomentation, 

 or, perchance, firing, the limb recovers its action, and the 

 horse becomes fit for ordinary work. The swelling, how- 

 ever, does not always subside. Enlargement, spread over 

 'the whole of the hock-joint, remains. A horse with an 

 enlarged hock must always be regarded with suspicion. In 

 truth, he is unsound. The parts, altered in structure, -must 

 be to a certain degree weakened. The animal may discharge 

 his usual work during a long period, without return of lame- 

 ness ; but if one of those emergencies should occur when all 

 his energies require to be exerted, the disorganised and wea- 

 kened part will fail. ITe may be ridden or driven moderately 

 for many a year without inconvenience, yet one extra hard 

 day's work may lame him for ever. 



