OR, HORSE DOCTOR 51 



under the vein, and tie both ends : then cut the vein across 

 between the tyings, both above and below, and you may 

 either draw the i)iece of the vein out or leave it in. Let 

 the iron you fire with be pretty sharp ; cut four or five nicks 

 upon the bone, and let the iron take hold of the superfluous 

 bone, in order that it may waste away by mattering ; and 

 when you have done, lay on some white pitch, pretty hot, 

 and put a cloth round it to keep it on. In three days open 

 the place and dress it with yellow basilicon. 



The Blood-Spavin, or Bog-Spavin. 



Many farriers and horse-dealers divide this disease into 

 two heads, and give them diflerent names ; but to my certain 

 knowledge they are both one, for I have proved it in many 

 ways. A Blood-spavin does not come by breeding from 

 spavined mares, nor by being got by spavined horses, as the 

 Bone-spavin does 5 but you may safely breed out of a Blood- 

 spavined mare, or have the foals got by a Blood-spavined 

 horse. In my opinion Blood-spavins are generally brought 

 on either by Sprains, or hard labor when the horbe is young, 

 and sometimes when he is full-grown. 



The Blood-spavin, or Bog-spavin, is a. dilation of the vein 

 that runs along the inside of the hock, and forms a small 

 soft swelling in the hollow part, which in time renders the 

 creature lame, but seldom till the gelatinous matter becomes 

 ropy, like melted glue in a bag, and is situate on the inside 

 of the hough. Sometimes it goes through the back part of 

 the joint, and then it Is called a thorough-pin. 



Curb. — Soon as you discover the vein puffed up, or form- 

 ing a bag, lay on some blistering ointment, and in four daya 

 after bathe the swelling Avell with hot vinegar, with a little 

 saltpetre dissolved in it. Also put a bandage; round it ta 

 disperse the swelling as much as you can. If this method 

 do not succeed, you must make two incisions in the skin 

 lengthwise, as the vein runs, one just above, and the other 

 just below the joint, and lay the vein bare : then put the 

 end of a buck's horn luider it. raise it up. and fasten it in both 

 places with waxed thread : then cut the vein in two at both 

 places, within the tyings, and if you think proper, draw the 

 vein out. This method of proceeding will cure most Bog- 

 spavins at the beginning. The Blood-spavin may also be 

 cured by applying the same ointment used in Bone-spavin, 

 only it should be applied once in six days instead of once in 

 four. This spavin ointment is very powerful, and when 

 properly used is the best ever invented. 



