5$ VETERINARY 



joint not having attained its proper growth ar^d 

 firmnefs, is easily twisted or bent inward. 



But we find that spavin sometimes takes place 

 on the joints of horses that have never been shod ; 

 this is owing to the carelefsnefs of the owner, in 

 permitting the horses to continue in the field a 

 number of months, without paying any attention 

 to their feet ; which frequently growing irregular ? 

 deprives them of a level tread. 



The feet of young horses, when at grafs, should 

 never remain unexamined above a month, or six 

 weeks at most ; and at that time all irregularities 

 of growth should be removed. By this means the 

 natural beauty of the foot will be preserved, spavins 

 and splints prevented, and the horse early accus- 

 tomed to the operations of the farrier, 



The consequences of the above causes arc, that 

 the head of the metatarsal or cannon bone becomes 

 inflamed and enlarged : this proceeds from extra- 

 vasation taking place in the interstices of the bone, 

 as is the case in soft parts. When the inflamma- 

 tion is suffered to go on, it generally communi- 

 cates its disposition to the neighbouring soft parts, 

 and by this means the periosteum, cellular mem- 

 brane, Jigaments, and muscles, are changed into^ 



