bones: diseases and accidents. 283 



early stages of the disease the himeness is most severe in the morning, 

 and disappears after the animal is exercised; it gradually becomes 

 more severe as the disease advances, so that when the disease is vt^ell 

 established the animal is lame continuously. Shortly after the lame- 

 ness 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 

 difficulty, 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 stages 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 (anchylosis). 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. — Treatment of spavin in the ox, as in the horse, is 

 likely to be tedious, and not always resulting in perfect cure. Usu- 

 ally it is best to fatten the animal for slaughter. If, however, treat- 

 ment is decided upon, it should consist of complete rest and counter- 

 irritation of the part either by sharp blisters or the firing iron. It 

 is advisable to try the effect of blistering first, and for this purpose 

 the following mixture is recommended : 



Powdered cantharides drams 2 



Biniodid of mercury do 2 



Vaseline ounces 1* 



Clip the hair off and apply over the inner and fore 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 ani- 

 mal'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 three or four times at intervals of three 

 weeks. The lameness will generally begin to disappear about the 

 third or fourth month if the above-described treatment proves bene- 

 ficial. Should lameness persist, firing in points by a qualified veteri- 

 narian may effect the desired result and should be tried as a last 

 resort. 



In a case of spavin the cure 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 sur- 

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

 motion of the bones, the animal will again go sound. The joints 



