760 



DISEASES AND THEIE TKEATMENT. 



ures produced. Figs. 648, 649 were copied from two interesting 



specimens loaned the writer by Prof. Cressy, of Hartford, Ct. 



The causes of spavin 

 are numerous altered 

 bearing, predisposition 

 from conformation or 

 mal-conformation of 

 the limb, but proceed- 

 ing mainly from hard 

 work, sprains, or any 

 cause which excites in- 

 flanimation of this 

 part. But the most 

 common cause lies in 

 the breeding of horses, 

 as very often a colt is 

 bred from a spavined 

 sire or dam, or both, 

 FIG. 648. Union of all FIG. 649. The same, when the colt is sure to 



the bones of the hock with excessive bony 



without enlargement. enlargement. 



Symptoms. The fi r s t 

 symptom usually shown in 

 spavin is a stiff moving on 

 the toe, which causes a pe- 

 culiar quick catching up of 

 the leg, especially in trot- 

 ting. This varies according 

 to the amount of inflamma- 

 tion and its location, from 

 being scarcely noticeable at 

 first, and passing off entirely 

 after going a little ways, to 

 severe lameness or stiffness 

 of the hock, which greatly 

 improves or disappears when 

 warmed up during a sharp 



inherit the same defect. 



FIG. 650. FIG. 651. 



Showing a bad condition of spavin. 



