SPRAINS OF TENDONS, LIGAMENTS ANDMUSCLES. 291 



several forms of lameness; the articulations formed b\- the approx- 

 imation of various bones are frequently the seat of disease; strain 

 and concussion are accountable for setting up inflammation in the 

 bones, bony deposition follows, and the surfaces of the bones 

 cannot glide smoothly upon one another; when this takes place 

 we have to deal with bone spavin. Then in order that these 

 various bones may be kept in proper relation, the one to the other, 

 numerous ligaments or short bands of fibrous tissue are found; 

 these become sprained, inflamed and thickened, causing lameness. 

 One well marked form of lameness known as curb, owes its 

 development to sprain of the annular ligament of the hock in its 

 posterior aspect; inflammation is set up, followed b}^ thickening of 

 this ligament together with a short ligament that is attached to 

 one of the posterior bones of the hock and the long bone of the 

 leg called the metatarsal bone, consequent upon which a slight 

 prominence (a curb) is observable at the back of the hock in its 

 lower aspect. Many practitioners, after reducing the inflammation 

 W'ith hot fomentations, fire for this condition; this practice we do 

 not agree with; the remedy that we have found answer the best 

 is a lotion consisting of one drachm of Perchloride of Mercury, dis- 

 solved in one pint of boiling w^ater with j ust sufficient Hydrochloric 

 acid added to keep the mercury in solution; with this the curb 

 should be well rubbed twice daily until the parts are sore, after 

 which apply a little sweet oil to the skin, and w^hen the soreness 

 has passed off recommence with the lotion over another period till 

 soreness is reproduced, and so on until the curb disappears en- 

 tirely; the time that it takes to effect the complete absorption of 

 an ordinary sized curb is one month under this form of treatment, 

 which when properly carried out leaves no blemish behind. 



Bog Spavin consi.sts of a soft, fluctuating swelling on the inner 

 portion of the front part of the hock joint; many horses are the 

 subjects of bog spavin, but never go lame; nevertheless they are 

 unsightly and must at all times be looked upon wdth suspicion lest 

 they should develop into a condition that produces lameness; when 

 treatment is desired the same lotion and course of procedure should 

 be adopted as has been already prescribed for curb. 



Bone Spavin. — It is of the first importance that a horseman 

 should be able to recognize when this form of bone disease is really 

 present; even many profe.ssional men make mistakes and condemn 



