Williams, Fisher, and Udall: The Spavin Group. 49 
Of distinct use, both as a curative agency in the earlier stages 
and as an alleviating remedy in confirmed lameness, is the appli- 
cation of cold water. The continuous irrigation probably serves 
the best purpose and there are numerous methods for applying 
this, but we question if any equals in efficacy the standing of the 
horse in a cold, running stream where such a method is avail- 
able. The highest efficiency of this treatment is attained by. con- 
tinuing it for four or five hours-daily over a long period of time. 
The application of warm or hot water or packs is counselled 
by some and possibly has a value approximating that of cold. 
In attempting to alleviate pain and restore usefulness through 
the medium of anchylosis, various means are used, having gener- 
ally a tendency to excite a more acute and reparative inflam- 
mation. Mildest among these are stimulating liniments and 
vesicants, and for these purposes anything and everything which 
will irritate has been used and recommended. In former days 
the aromatic oils like origanum, spike, and others were in high 
repute and perhaps justly so. They are still used, as is also to 
a large extent camphor and turpentine. Jodine and mercury 
have a prominent part in veterinarian’s prescriptions and patent 
nostrums and possess reasonable efficiency. None of them are 
reliable and are generally considered inferior to more radical 
measures. 
- Subcutaneous injections over. the affected part of oil of mus- 
tard, turpentine, concentrated salt solution, and other substances 
have been advised and cures reported. 
Setons were formerly in vogue with many, especially in 
spavin and navicular disease, and apparently exercised a benef- 
icent tenidency, but they have been largely discarded. 
Cautery has long been in high favor and is perhaps the most 
universally applied of any form of treatment in these affections. 
It is applied in the two forms of line and puncture firing with 
endless deviation in extent, intensity, and plan. The method is 
largely a question of choice, though we believe the present 
tendency is rather towards multiple deep punctures. The instru- 
ment for the firing is purely a matter of choice, most veteri- 
narians now using the thermo-cautery as being more convenient 
and neater. An old form of treatment for ringbone and spavin 
was the now obsolete spavin punch, in which a group of sharp 
steel spikes were driven into the exostosis of spavin or ringbone. 
We know little of its efficacy. 
