SPAVINS. 177 



(1.) Bog Spavin. — This kind of spavin is situated in 

 front of the hock-joint, and is a soft, fluctuating swelling, 

 which rarely ever causes lameness. It is merely an en- 

 largement or distention of the bursal cavity of the joint, 

 and is filled with the natural fluid of the joint, but in- 

 creased in quantity, and possibly, in some cases, a little 

 changed in quality also. 



(2.) Blood Spavin. — Is the same as bog spavin, but 

 more extensive, and generally involving the hock-joint 

 on its three sides, front, inside, and outside, and giving 

 to the limb a thick,rounded appearance, called thorough- 

 pin, (which see.) The swelling is soft and fluctuating, 

 and indeed there is no perceptible difiference in the na- 

 ture and result of this form of spavin, and the above va- 

 riety, only being more extensive, interfering, perhaps, 

 with the flow of blood in the sub-cutaneous, or vein under 

 the skin, which is seen in front, and partly to the side of 

 the joint, adding very little to the general swelling. 



Causes. — Hard work and fast driving, especially when 

 horses are young. 



Treatment. — The application of the ointment of red 

 iodide of mercury, in the hands of some, has done much 

 good; but the enlargement is apt to return when the 

 horse is again put to work, from the fact that the more 

 joint-oil, or fluid is poured out, and hence the cause of 

 its return. Acupuncturation, or forcing small steel in- 

 struments into the swelling to let out the fluid, after 

 which a bandage or truss is fitted to the part to press out 

 the fluid that remains, and to cause adhesion of the parts 

 together are sometimes resorted to. The difficulty in cur- 

 ing soft spavin, is the danger of opening into a cavity or 

 joint containing oil, (synovia.) An old way of treating such 

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