DISEASES AJMD INJURIES OF THE LEGS. 179 



In many cases, however, as has been explained above, there is little or 

 no external enlargement, and we can only infer the existence of a spavin 

 by the peculiarity of the lameness or by abnormal heat about the part. 

 In examining a horse suspected of occult spavin, it is a good plan to lift 

 the hind leg and forcibly flex it up to the thigh several times. After 

 this the horse should be trotted slowly, when, if he has a sjaavin, he will 

 probably show lameness. 



The action, the true and perfect flexion or otherwise of the hock, and 

 the level carriage or otherwise of the hips, should be most carefully ob- 

 served. The action in many of the worst cases of spavin, namely those 

 between the bones, often affords the only indication of the disease. 



Treatment. — If incipient spavin be suspected, rest is the great essen- 

 tial. Either cold applications or fomentations are useful in reducing the 

 inflammatory action, and application of tincture of iodine may be made 

 with advantage. 



One should not be over-alarmed or tempted too readily into the adop- 

 tion of active treatment by a horse going lame during the formation of 

 a spavin. Lameness usually occurs and it probably arises, not from in- 

 terference, by the exostosis, with the bending motion, but simply from 

 the pressure of the new deposit on the inflamed periosteum covering the 

 bone. The pain, and with it the lameness, usually abates as soon as the 

 periosteum has enlarged and accommodated itself to the exostosis; and 

 generally disappears altogether when, by rest and other appropriate 

 treatment, the inflammation is allayed, and the newly formed deposit has 

 consolidated into bone. 



In young horses, especially, a lengthened period of rest without any 

 very active measures is always well worthy of a trial. Their bones and 

 ligaments are weak, and their whole frame is often unequal to the work 

 demanded of them; and in very many cases nothing more than time and 

 the gradual increase of strength resulting from age, good feeding, and 

 carefully regulated exercise are needed to give strength and stability to 

 the weaker structures of the frame. Yet, though rest is essential, some 

 slight exercise, such as that which a horse will give himself in a loose 

 box, is beneficial, lest the parts should become stiffened by disuse, as well 

 as from the deposit of bone. 



If the inflammatory action does not subside after a time under the 

 above simple treatment, and the horse still continues lame, it will be 

 necessary to have recourse to other remedial agents, such as a blister of: 



