436 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



swelling of the thigh vein,extending sometimes from the hock 

 up to the groin, very hot and tender. It is not mentioned 

 by Percivall, Blaine, Mayhew, or in ordinary books, but is 

 important, as its other symptoms are similar to ordinary 

 swelled leg. When this affection of the vein is found, 

 bleedings, fomentations, and mild purgatives, to lower the 

 system, should be adopted. 



SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK JOINT. 



This we have already noticed. When occurring in the 

 hinder feet, it may be mistaken by a superficial observer 

 for oedema. Put the limb in a bucket of hot water, bleed 

 from the leg, then apply a cloth wetted with muriate of 

 ammonia, one ounce ; pyroligneous acid, two ounces ; cam- 

 phorated spirit, half an ounce ; water, one quart : and if 

 much lamed, apply a patten shoe, and give absolute rest — 

 which is the reverse of the treatment for oedema. 



An Overshot Fetlock joint sometimes renders a horse use- 

 less ; he is only just able in this case to bring the toe to the 

 ground. There is but one remedy — division of the flexor 

 tendon. The divided ends recede, and the intervening space 

 is filled with granulations. 



HALTER-CAST. 



The horse often injures himself by entangling his hind 

 leg in the halter, and injuring his fetlock or his heel. Wrap 

 the part in a large linseed poultice, and then apply an 

 astringent paste ; pipe-clay mixed with water, in which a 

 piece of alum has been dissolved, is a cheap and useful 

 application. When this is taken off, soften the cicatrix 

 with a little Florence or palm oil. 



WIND-GALLS. 



The similarity of wind-galls to bog-spavin and thorough- 

 pin — the two latter, however, being looked upon as hock 

 diseases, and the former as affecting the fetlock joint and 

 the sheath of the flexor tendons — renders detail almost 

 unnecessary. They are almost always on the hind legs. 

 There are two situations in which they usually appear , 

 one on each side, and at an equal distance from the front 



