BONE SPA VIN 155 



the hock joint. The weight thus thrown on the inner 

 splint-bone produces inflammation of the cartilaginous 

 substance which unites it to the shank-bone; the result 

 of which is absorption of the cartilage and a deposit of 

 bone or bony substance, and the union, instead of 

 being cartilaginous and elastic, becomes hard and un- 

 yielding. If this stat^ of things is permitted to exist 

 without proper treatment being resorted to, the evil, 

 increasing, implicates the head of the splint-bone at its 

 junction with the shank-bone, and bone spavin is 

 produced. Indeed, inflammation of the ligaments of 

 any of the numerous small bones of the hock serves to 

 produce bone spavin. During its formation spavin 

 generally causes lameness, but by degrees as the 

 periosteum accommodates itself to the distension to 

 which it is subjected by the enlargement, the lameness, 

 provided it does not interfere with the action of the 

 joint, will cease. 



At times horses may be seen with very large spavins, 

 which do not, save when first starting, affect their 

 going, or cause more than a temporary stiffness. Yet 

 a greater number of horses are lame by reason of a 

 spavin, which may be so insignificant in appearance as 

 to take some close observation to detect, the spavin in 

 this latter case being in such a position as to interfere 

 with the proper action of the joint. 



The bones of the hock joint are so numerous that it 

 !s unadvisable for me to enter more fully on the subject 

 as far as they are concerned. Suffice it to say that any 

 of them may become implicated, and lameness in a 

 greater or less degree will result, according as the 

 deposit formed affects the action more or less. I can 

 but advise any horse-owner who may be interested in 



