246 THE farmer's veterinarian 



If the patient is examined before any bony growth 

 has developed, inflammation will be detected on 

 the inside of the hock joint at the junction of the 

 cannon bone and the joint. While in the stable 

 the horse prefers to rest the diseased leg by setting 

 the heel on the toe of the opposite foot with the 

 hock joint flexed. In traveling the patient is very 

 lame when first taken out of the barn, but after 

 traveling for a short distance goes sound. The 

 diseased leg is not lifted clear from the ground, but 

 nicks the toe in the middle of the stride, which is 

 very noticeable on a pavement. A strained horse 

 becomes very lame after being allowed to stand for 

 even a very short time, then moved again. 



Preventive treatment consists in keeping horses* 

 feet trimmed properly, not overworking colts while 

 young, careful driving on hard or uneven roads, 

 and avoiding all injuries that are liable to strain 

 tendons, ligaments or joints of the limbs. Even 

 after a spavin has developed it may be cured by 

 proper treatment of the feet, and applying a fly 

 blister. The fly blister is prepared by mixing 

 thoroughly 4 tablespoonfuls of pulverized canthar- 

 ides, 4 tablespoonfuls of biniodide of mercury and 

 8 ounces of lard. The hair is clipped over the 

 spavin and the blister applied with considerable 

 rubbing. The horse's head should be tied so as to 

 avoid his biting the part blistered. A second ap- 

 plication of the blister is to be used about a month 

 after the first. If blistering fails to cure the spavin, 

 point-firing may be resorted to. It is necessary to 

 " fire " rather deeply to secure good results, care 

 being taken not to fire into a joint. After firing, a 

 fly blister should be rubbed into the holes where 

 the hot iron has been used. 



