Williams, Fisher, and Udall: The Spavin Group, 47 
The prospect of resolution without visible traces of the 
malady are remote, only those few cases which we are able to 
diagnose prior to the establishment of extensive lesions or which 
without recognition undergo some change in environment or 
care offering hope for complete recovery. 
A large proportion recover their usefulness through a restora- 
tion of any lost vigor, repair of the affected bone and other 
tissues, or the anchylosis of joints of limited motion. In other 
cases, changes in shoeing and other forms of handling alleviate 
the pain and render the animal capable of doing. certain kinds 
of labor in comparative comfort, especially slow work on soft 
ground. . 
A’ goodly part of the total, perhaps twenty-five to thirty per 
cent., remain permanently lame and essentially worthless. 
TREATMENT. 
The handling of this group of affections may be undertaken 
with a variety of objects in view, according to conditions. We 
may aim at the attainment of resolution, the repair of the af- 
fected parts with permanent blemish, the production of anchylosis, 
the alleviation of pain, or the production of anzesthesia. 
Any attempt to induce resolution necessarily demands our 
attention to the care of the animal, especially in relation to the — 
character of food, housing, and exercise. In discussing the 
causes, we have necessarily indicated indirectly that in order to 
abort the affection in its early stages, we would do well to 
allow a variety of food: of good quality, and preferably the 
freedom of the pasture. If the exigencies of weather or sur- 
roundings demand housing, we would desire the ordinary hy- 
gienic conditions, including regular daily exercise of a moderate 
kind. These conditions are also advisable as contributory to 
other methods of treatment at.any stage of the affection. 
Internal medication has not been placed on a secure experi- 
mental basis. While some writers, in cases of rickets or other 
disease involving increased excretion of phosphates in the urine, 
advise the internal administration of these, claiming good results, 
although advising with it other medication and care which 
would probably favorably affect the course of the disease, others. 
have found no benefit from the administration of phosphorus. 
Although we can readily comprehend the reason for admin- 
istering phosphates as an alterative and thereby hope to secure 
