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In cases where inflammation is present, it will be necessary to give an 

 aperient, say, four to six drachms of aloes, and to feed the animal on 

 laxative diet. Rest is ess'ential. Locally, cooling lotions, such as one 

 composed of spirit one part, solution of acetate of lead one part, water eight 

 parts, may be applied at frequent intervals. Afterwards, and in dropsical 

 cases, from the first the joint may be blistered with ointment of biniodide of 

 mercury, or with a tincture made by dissolving thirty-five grains of 

 bichloride of mercury in two ounces of methylated spirit, and adding forty 

 grains of biniodide of mercury. If this does not prove efficacious, firing is 

 necessary, and will almost certainly prove curative, as, fortunately, all 

 varieties of bog-spavin, excepting the rheumatic, prove almost universally 

 amenable to judicious treatment. The fluid effused cannot be drawn off by 

 puncturing, as it is contained in the true hock joint, which must on no account 

 be opened. We have not seen many cases of so-called blood-spavin. By this 

 term is signified a varicose condition of the large vein running over the 

 inside of the hock. Such a condition is very rarely met with. 



CAPPED HOCK, KNEE, AND ELBOW. 



There are two varieties of capped hock. The commoner kind of this 

 affection is a serous sac, situated at the point of the hock, between the skin 

 and the tendon situated there. It is generally due to an injury, the result of 

 a sharp blow sustained in kicking, or in other ways. If there be heat in the 

 part indicating inflammation, cooling lotions should be applied locally ; and, 

 when the acute stage is over, the ointment of biniodide of mercury will prove 

 valuable, if repeated at intervals of several days. There is a bursa situated 

 at the point of the hock; and, when this becomes inflamed, as the result of a 

 sprain or other injury, the second variety of capped hock is produced. This 

 bursal enlargement, which is rarely met with, can easily be distinguished 

 from the other variety of capped hock, by the fact that it makes its 

 appearance on both sides of the joint of the hock, as an elastic fluctuating 

 tumour or swelling. Although the previous variety cannot be regarded as 

 an unsoundness, this form does render the animal unsound. The only 

 treatment of value for this affection, is either blistering with ointment of red 

 iodide of mercury, or firing. General rest is necessary, and local rest of the 

 limb should be secured by the application of a high-heeled shoe. 



Capped knee is due to a swollen condition of the bursa in front of 

 the knee joint. This bursa is that over which the tendon in front of the 

 knee plays ; and it is not unfrequently injured by blows, or by the entrance 

 of thorns into it, when it becomes swollen, and distended with effused fluid. 

 As soon as the injury is sustained, pain and lameness usually manifest 

 themselves. In these early stages, rest, an aperient of aloes, and the 

 application of warm water fomentations are requisite. As the inflammation 

 passes off, it is well to blister the swollen part with ointment of equal parts 

 of biniodide of mercury and of cantharides. If this does not cause the 

 absorption of the effused fluid, is is best to puncture the distended sac, at its 



