426 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



also thicken, and accumulations take place about the 

 capsule, which become of semi-cartilaginous consistency. 

 It has been punctured occasionally with partial success, and 

 the contents have been drawn off by setons ; but the inflam- 

 mation raised has endangered life. It has also been opened, 

 and its contents, which, in the enlarged state, are partly 

 fluid and partly semi-solid, evacuated ; but after-irritation 

 has endangered life, and no great advantage has been 

 gained, for the incision made has united, and the sac has 

 filled again. Hand-rubbing, almost continuously applied, 

 has done more good with regard to diminishing the size 

 than all the puncturing, blistering, and firing put together. 

 The hand is also assisted by an india-rubber bandage made 

 to fit the part, and worn at such times as the friction is 

 stayed. When, however, opening the sac is insisted upon, 

 it is best to dissect away the lining membrane, or to destroy 

 it by the application of caustic. 



It is exceedingly difficult to apply a bandage ; and 

 puncturing the tumour, or passing a seton through it, 

 would be a most injudicious and dangerous practice. 

 Blisters, repeated as long as may be necessary, are the 

 usual means employed. Sometimes the tumour will disap- 

 pear of itself ; but at others it will attain a very large size, 

 or will assume a callous structure that will bid defiance to 

 all curative appliances. 



BOG-SPAVIN — BLOOD-SPAVIN — BONE-SPAVIN. 



Bog-Spavin is the commonest form among young horses, 

 chiefly at the time of breaking. 



Bog-spavin may be termed *' wind-gall " of the hock. 

 From over-exertion the bursae mucosae, which lubricate 

 this complicated joint, become inflamed and enlarged ; hence 

 the subcutaneous vein which passes over these bags on the 

 inside of the hock is compressed, and the blood interrupted 

 in its flow : blood-spavin is thus produced, but bog-spavin 

 may exist without it. Blood-spavin is a mere fanciful 

 distinction, which may be dismissed without further 

 comment. 



Spavin and splint, in their most advanced stage, are the 

 conversion of ligament into bone ; yet, when spavin is 

 found, though it may be small, no one can tell where it 

 may stop. It is alarming to find them in young horses ; 



