334 



In their general characteristics tliese tumors are similar to wind- 

 galls, and one description of the origin, symptoms, pathological 

 changes, and treatment will serve for all equally, except that it is 

 possible for a blood spavin to cause lameness, and thus to involve a 

 verdict of unsoundness in the patient, a circumstance which will of 

 course justify its classification by itself as a severer form of a single 

 type of disease. 



We have alread}^ referred to the subject of treatment and the means 

 employed — rest, of coui'se — with liniments, blisters, etc., and what we 

 esteem as the most active and beneficial of an}-, early, deep, and well- 

 performed cauterization. There are, besides, commendatory reports 

 of a form of treatment by the application of pads and peculiar band- 

 ages upon the hocks, and it is claimed that the removal of the tumors 

 has been effected by their use. But our experience with this appa- 

 ratus has not been accompanied by such favorable results as would 

 justify our indorsement of the flattering representations which have 

 sometimes appeared in its behalf. 



Open joints — Broken knees — Sijnovitis — Arihriiis. — The nearness of 

 the relations which exist between these several affections and their 

 apparent connection as perliaps successive develoi^ments of a similar 

 if not an essentially identical origin, with the advantage to be gained 

 by the avoidance of frequent repetition in the details of symptoms, 

 treatment, etc., are our reasons for treating under a single head the 

 ailments we have grouped together in the j^resent chapter. 



Tlie great, comprehensive, common cause whose effect is the disa- 

 bility, sometimes permanent and sometimes only of transient duration, 

 of chiefly the horse among our domestic animals, is external trauma- 

 tism. Blows, bruises, hurts by nearly every known form of violence, 

 falls, kicks, lacerations, punctures — we may add compulsory speed in 

 racing and cruel overloading of draught animals — cover the entire 

 ground of the diseases and injuries of the joints, now receiving our 

 consideration. 



In one case, a Avorking horse making a misstep stumbles, and falling 

 on his knees receives a hurt, variously severe, from a mere abrasion 

 of the skin to a laceration, a division of the tegument, a slough, mor- 

 tification, and the escape of the synovial fluid with or without exposure 

 of the bones and their articular cartilages. 



In another case an animal, from one cause or another, perhaps an 

 impatient temper, has formed the habit of striking or pawing his man- 

 ger with his fore feet until inflammation of the knee-joint is induced, 

 first as a little swelling, diffused, i)ainless; then as a periostitis of the 

 bones of the knee; later as bony deposits, then lameness, and finally 

 the implication of the joint,^ and following all the various conditions 

 of carpitis. 



In another case a horse has received a blow with a fork from a care- 

 less hostler, on or near a joint, or has been kicked by a stable com- 

 panio}!, witli llie result of a jjunctured wound, at first mild-looking. 



