154 BONE SPA VI N 



the bog spavin is treated in time, the formation of 

 blood spavin is prevented. There is no actual cure 

 for eiiher bog or blood spavin, but, as may be 

 supposed, any treatment which may serve to reduce 

 the former must of necessity benefit the latter. It by 

 no means follows that either one or the other produces 

 lameness. Rest, friction, pressure by means of ban- 

 daging, and sweating-bandages, combined with due 

 regard to the horse being kept in proper condition, 

 and not over-fed, are the best remedies. 



Bone spavin is an affection of the bones of the joint 

 of the hock. 



What is termed the ' shank,' or ' cannon ' bone, and 

 the two little bones behind it, serve to support the 

 lower layer of the bones of the hock. The. cuboid 

 bone rests on the shank-bone, and in a slight degree 

 on the outer splint-bone. Thus a very great pro- 

 portion of the weight and concussion is thrown on the 

 splint-bones. Not only is the inner of the two splint- 

 bones placed more directly under the body, and nearer, 

 therefore, to the centre of gravity, but nearly the whole 

 of the weight and concussion communicated to the 

 small, wedge-like bone it sustains are therefore laid 

 on it. In jumping or heavy draught-work it is not to 

 be wondered at that in young horses, especially before 

 their hocks have become properly knit, the inner 

 splint-bone or else its ligaments, or the substance 

 which connects it with the shank-bone, should at 

 times suffer severe injury. Injudicious shoeing is also 

 a frequent cause of spavin. For if the outer heel is 

 raised too high from the ground, the unequal dis- 

 tribution of the weight must be injurious, and cause 

 an undue strain on the ligaments, particularly those of 



