349 



panied with lameness, developed in a greater or less degree, which in 

 some cases may be permanent and in others increased by work. But 

 these complications are not common or frequent. 



Capped hocks are in many cases amenable to treatment, and yet they 

 often become the opprobrium of the practitioner by remaining, as they 

 frequently do, an eyesore on the top of the hock ; not interfering, it is 

 true, with the work of the horse, but fixing upon him the stigma of 

 what, in human estimation, and especially in that of the tribe of "prac- 

 tical politicians," is a most unreliable and objectionable reputation, to- 

 wit, that of being a habitual "kicker," and, worse than all, one that 

 kicks where he receives his provender. 



The maxim that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" 

 fits the present case very neatly. A horse whose hocks have a some- 

 what puffy look and whose skin on the front of the hock is loose and 

 flabby, justly subjects himself to a suspicion of his addictedness to this 

 bad habit. But ho may easily be either convicted or exonerated — a lit- 

 tle watching will soon establish the truth. If, then, the verdict is one 

 of conviction, precautions should be immediately adopted against a con- 

 tinuance of the evil. The padding of the sides of the stall with straw 

 mats or mattresses and covering the posts with similar material in such 

 a manner that no hard surface shall be exposed with which to come in 

 contact, will reduce the evil to its minimum. He may jar his frame 

 when he kicks, but even then there will be less force in the concus- 

 sion than if it impinged upon the solid i)lank, and cuts and abrasions 

 can not be inflicted by a properly made cushion. Hobbles are also 

 rightly recommended with a view to the required restraint of motion, 

 so applied as to secure the leg with which the kicking is performed, or 

 even both hind legs, yet in such a manner as shall not interfere with 

 the movements of lying down and rising again and yet allowing that 

 of kicking backwards. Boots similar in i^attern to those which are 

 used for the prevention of shoe boil are also prescribed. These are 

 placed above the hock and retained by straps tightly fastened. But 

 we apprehend that the difficulty of retaining them in the proper 

 place without the danger of chafing from the tightness of the straps 

 might form an objection to their use. Notwithstanding all precautious, 

 Locks will be capped in the future as in the past, and the study of their 

 treatment will always be in order. 



The mode of dealing with them will of course be greatly influenced 

 by the condition of the parts. When the inflammation is excessive and 

 the swelling large, hot, and painful to the touch, the application of 

 warm water will be very beneficial. The leg should be well fomented 

 several times a day, for from fifteen to twenty minutes each time, a 

 strong decoction of marsh-mallow leaves being added to the water, and 

 after each ai)plication swathed with flannel bandages soaked in the 

 same warm mixture. A few days of this treatment will usually effect 



