178 THE HORSE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



WINDGALLS 



Windgalls are soft, non-sensitive, puffy swellings filled with 

 synovial fluid. They appear about the fetlock joint and other 

 parts where tendon-sheaths are located. These enlargements vary 

 in size, from a hazelnut to that of a hen's egg, or larger. In old 

 horses they are a sign of hard work. Foals develop windgalls 

 from general weakness, but they disappear without treatment when 

 the animals get older. If no inconvenience is given the horse, little 

 attention is required. They rarely diminish the usefulness of the 

 animal unless they become indurated and converted into fibrous 

 tissue. Little success follows the removal of the fluid from wind- 

 galls. Massage and bandaging are helpful in reducing them. 

 It is not wise to apply a blister with the hope of getting absorption 

 of the serous fluid, as experience teaches that no permanent benefit 

 results from such treatment. 



CURB 



Curb is a swelling, or bulging backward, at the back of the hock, 

 about 6 inches below its point. It is caused by anything that 

 brings about a thickening in the ligament, tendon, or skin of this 

 region, so as to cause a deviation in the straight line that normally 

 extends from the point of the hock to the fetlock (see Fig. 49). To 

 detect a curb the examiner should view the leg in profile from both 

 sides. A ''curby hock" is often found in an animal with a tendency 

 toward "sickle hocks" (see Fig. 56). When lameness results from 

 curb use a high-heeled shoe to remove strain from the part. Rub- 

 bing the enlargement daily with a flat bone helps to reduce the 

 enlargement. The actual cautery must be resorted to not infre- 

 quently for removal of the lameness. 



STRIKGHALT 



Stringhalt is a spasmodic jerking up of one or both hind legs. 

 It is most evident when the horse is walking, turning, or backing. 

 Nothing positive is known about its origin. It may usually be 

 cured or greatly remedied by a surgical operation on the lateral 

 extensor tendon. An incision is made over the tendon on the out- 

 side of the leg just below the hock and about 2 inches of the tendon 

 is removed. 



