WJNDGALLS. 323 



ments may be symptoms of grave injury, such as that of sprain 

 of neighbouring parts; their presence, when uncomplicated by 

 other affections, rarely diminishes the usefulness of an animal; 

 and consequently, they should not, as a rule, be interfered with. 



GENERAL TREATMENT.— The best thing to do, if practicable, 

 is to employ massage (p. 664), and apply pressure by means of 

 cotton w^adding (p. 45), or other soft material. If w^e cannot do 

 this, and if heat and inflammation be present, w^e should use 

 warm fomentations ; j^ut the horse on laxative food ; and give a 

 jjurgative if necessary. When applicable, w^e should employ a 

 high-heeled shoe (Fig. 4, p. 27), in order to, throw the part into 

 a state of rest. Trusses made for the reduction of bog spavins 

 and thoroughpins may be used. As a rule they are difficult to 

 adjust properly. The continued application of tincture or liniment 

 of iodine, rubbed in twice a day, has been found to be of service 

 in some cases. Blisters and rest may cause absorption for the time 

 being ; but the distension wdll generally reappear as bad as ever 

 on the resumption of w^ork. 



When there is no inflammation or abnormal heat in the part, 

 the excess of synovia may be safely drawn off by means of an 

 aspirator; provided that strict antiseptic precautions (p. 70) are 

 observed. The operation, to be successful, must be performed 

 wdth skill and great care. As it is attended with risk, and 

 as it offers little or no practical benefit, it is not often wdse to 

 attempt it, especially with bog spavin, in which case the failure 

 of the antiseptic j)recautions would be followed by open joint, 

 and as a result of that, by a permanently stiff hock joint, if not 

 by death. 



Windgalls of the Fetlock 



may be said to be a distended condition of the synovial bursoe of 

 the fetlock. They appear at first in the form of soft, " puffy " 

 swellings, w^hich may vary, in magnitude, from the size of a pea, 

 to that of a hen's egg, or even larger. From the presence of 

 inflammation, they may become hard from becoming converted 

 into fibrous tissue or bone. 



ANATOMY. — The usual positions they occupy are as follows: — 1. In the 

 space between the branches of the suspensory ligament and the perforans 

 tendon : this is their usual site. 2. " In the interval between the perforatus 

 and perforans tendons, about two inches above the sesamoid bones ; indeed, 

 the sac of the windgall, from surrounding attachments to its borders, appears 

 as though it gave passage to the perforans tendon through its cavity ; though 

 this appearance, in point of fact, is owing to the membrane of the bursa being 

 reflected upon the surface of the tendon " [Percivall). 3. In front of the 

 fetlock under the tendon which extends the foot. The enlargement is then 



21* 



