3G2 



tiX^on the tumor. If, however, tlie tliickeniug of the growth fails to 

 diminish it should be treated with some of the iodine preparations in 

 the form of ointments, pure or in combination with X)otassa, mercury, 

 etc., of various strengths and in various proportions. Our opinion 

 of setons is not favorable, but the actual cautery, by deep and fine 

 firing, in jDoints — needle cauterization — we believe to be the best mode 

 of treatment, and especiall}^ when applied earlj-. 



Whatever treatment may be adopted for capj)ed hock, patience 

 must be one of the ingredients. In these i)arts absorx^tion is slow and 

 the skin is very thick, and its return to a soft, pliable, natural condi- 

 tion, if effected at all, will only take place after weeks added to other 

 weeks of medical treatment and patient waiting. 



Interfering — Speedy cuts. — These designations belong to certain spe- 

 cial injuries of the extremities, i)roduced b}' similar causes, giving I'ise 

 to kindred pathological lesions with allied XJhenomeua, requiring about 

 the same treatment and often followed by the same results, to-wit, a 

 blemish which maj" not only subject the animal to a suspicion of 

 unsoundness, but in some special circumstances interfere with his 

 ability to labor. It is known as ' ' interfering " when the location of 

 the trouble is the inside of the fetlock of either the fore or hind leg. 

 It is called "speed}' cut " when it occurs on the inside of the fore leg, a 

 little below tlie knee, at the point of contact of that joint Avith the 

 cannon. 



It is always tlic result of a blow, self-inflicted, of varj'ing severity, 

 and giving rise to various lesions. At times the injury is too slight 

 to be seriously noticed, the hair being scarcely cut and the skin 

 unmarked. At other times the skin will be cut through, partly or 

 wiiolly, and it may for the time cause a sufficient amount of pain to 

 check the motion of the animal and induce him to suspend his labor 

 through his inability to use the wounded limb, traveling meanwhile 

 for a short space on three legs only. Sometimes a single blow will 

 suffice, or again there will be a repetition of lighter strokes. In the 

 latter case the parts will become much swollen, hot and so painful to 

 the touch that the motion of the knee or the fetlock will be sufficiently 

 disturbed to cause lameness of a degree of severity corresponding with 

 that of the lesion. Folio Aving the subsidence of this diffused and 

 oedematous swelling is sometimes the formation of a tumor, either at 

 the knee or the fetlock. This may be soft at first or become so by 

 degrees, with fluctuation, its contents being at first extravasated 

 blood, and later a serositj-; or, if there has been a sufficient degree of 

 inflammation, it may become suppurative. The result of the fault of 

 interfering may thus l)e exhibited, whether at the knee or at the fet- 

 lock, as characterized by all the pathological conditions Avhich have 

 appeared as accompaniments of capped knee or capped hock. If, in 

 consequence of the force of the blow or bloAVs, the inflammation has 

 been Tinusually scA'cre, a mortification of the skin may become one of 



