349 



jumpiug or of slipi^ing'; in a word, it iiiay result from any of tlie causes 

 heretofore considered as instrumental in producing lacerations of 

 muscular, tendinous, or ligamentous structure. 



A hock affected Avith curb will, at the outset, present a swelling 

 more or less diffuse on its posterior portion, with varying degrees of 

 heat and soreness, and these will he accompanied by lameness of a 

 permanent character. At a later period, however, the swelling will 

 become better defined, the deformity more characteristic, the promi- 

 nent curved line readity detected, and the thickness of the infiltrated 

 tissue easily determined by the fingers. At this time, also, there may 

 be a condition of lameness, varjdng in degree; while at others, again, 

 the irregularity of action at the hock will be so slight as to escape 

 attention, the animal betrajang no appearance of its existence. 



A curb constitutes, by a strict construction of the term, an " unsound- 

 ness," since the hock thus affected is less able to endure severe labor, 

 and is more liable to give way with the slightest effort. And yet the 

 prognosis of a curb can not be considered to be serious, since it gen- 

 erally yields to treatment, or at least the lameness it may occasion is 

 generally easily relieved, though the loss of contour caused by the 

 bulging will always constitute a blemish to the eye. 



On the first appearance of a curb, when it exhibits the signs of an 

 acute inflammation, the first indication is to subdue this by the use of 

 warm fomentations or other topical applications. But when these 

 have exhausted their effect and the swelling has assumed better 

 defined boundaries, and the infiltration of the tendons or of the liga- 

 ments is all that remains of a morbid state, then every effort must be 

 directed to the object of effecting its absorption and reducing its 

 dimensions by pressure and other methods. The medicaments most 

 to be trusted are blisters of cantharides and frictions with ointments 

 of iodine, or, preferably, biniodide of mercury. Mercurial agents 

 alone, by their therapeutic properties, or by means of the artificial 

 bandages which they f urnisli by their incrustations when their vesi- 

 catory effects are exhausted, will give good results in some instances 

 by a single application, and often by rexjeated applications. The use 

 of the firing iron must, however, be frequently resorted to, either to 

 remove the lameness or to stimulate the exudation. We believe that 

 its early application ought to be resorted to in preference to waiting 

 until the exudation is firmly organized. Deep and fine needle firing 

 will prove as beneficial in curb as in any other disease of a similar 

 nature. 



Lacerated tendons. — This form of injurj^, whether of a simple or of 

 a compound character, may become a lesion of a very serious nature, 

 and will usually require long and careful treatment, which may yet 

 prove unavailing in consequence either of the intrinsically fatal char- 

 acter of the wound itself or the complications which have rendered it 

 incurable. 



