BONES DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 297 



disappears after the animal is exercised; it gradually becomes more 

 severe as the disease advances, so that when the disease is well estab- 

 lished the animal is lame continuously. Shortly after the lameness 

 appears a bunch (exostosis) will be noticed on the inner and fore part 

 of the affected joint. This bunch differs from bog spavin in that it is 

 hard, while bog spavin is soft. It increases in size as the disease 

 advances, till the animal is too lame to be used for labor. As the dis- 

 ease is always attended with considerable pain there is more or less loss 

 of flesh. In the most advanced stage the animal will step with diffi- 

 culty, frequently holding the foot from the ground, or if forced to take a 

 few steps, stands with it elevated, twitching with pain. In the earlier 

 stage of the disease only a small portion of the fore part of the lower or 

 second articulation is involved, but the inflammatory process gradually 

 extends over the whole surface of the lower joints of the hock. The 

 structures of the joint are broken down and the bones are united (anchy- 

 losis). This process may include any or all of the three lower joints of 

 the hock. The joint of motion which is situated on the lower end of 

 the leg bone is seldom involved. Treatment of spavin in the ox, as in 

 the horse, is likely to be tedious, and not always resulting in perfect 

 cure. Usually it is best to fatten the animal for slaughter. If, how- 

 ever, treatment is decided UIXHI, it would be by the application of the 

 following blister: 



Powdered cautharides 3 drams. 



Riuiodido of mercury * 2 drains. 



Vaseline 1 i ounces. 



Clip the hair off and apply over the inner and foro part of the joint, 

 covering the surface an inch and a half in every direction from the 

 enlargement, or over an area 3 to 4 inches across. Fasten the animal's 

 head so that it can not reach the part to lick it; after the third day 

 grease with lard every other day until the scabs come off. This blister 

 may be repeated every month or six weeks. The lameness will generally 

 begin to disappear about the third or fourth month and a more or less 

 perfect cure be effected by the sixth or seventh. 



In a ease of spavin the euro is not effected by restoring the diseased 

 parts to their natural condition, but by uniting the bones and obliter- 

 ating the joints. If this union extends over the whole articular surface 

 of the joints affected and is sufficiently strong to prevent any motion of 

 the bones, the animal will again go sound. The joints that are obliter- 

 ated not being those of motion are not important, so that the animal 

 suffers no inconvenience in their loss. 



RHEUMATISM. 



Cattle exposed to severe cold or damp weather are likely to suffer 

 from this disease, or it may appear as a sequel to some diseases of the 

 lungs or skin. Some animals seem to be naturally predisposed to it. 

 In its nature it is inflammatory and is more likely to involve the organs 



