1 98 THE HORSE. 



Treatment. Before the bony growth has commenced, the inflam. 

 matory process may be cut short by the use of cold baths and wet 

 bandages, followed by one or more blisters. If the bony deposits have 

 begun, the firing iron should always be used. Even where the tumours 

 are large and the pastern joint involved, firing often hastens the process 

 of anchylosis, and should always be tried. 



Where the lower joint is involved, or where the tumour interferes with 

 the action of the tendons, of course recovery is not to be expected. In 

 many of these latter cases, however, the animal may be made service- 

 able by proper shoeing. If the patient walks with the toe on the ground 

 the foot should be shod with a high-heeled shoe and a short toe. On 

 the other hand, if he walks on the heel a thick-toed and thin heeled shoe 

 must be worn. 



Since ringbone is considered to be one of the hereditary diseases no 

 animal suffering from this trouble should ever be used for breeding 

 purposes. 



Spavin. This affection, popularly termed bone spavin, is a disease 

 of the hock joint. The general impression is that in a spavined hock, 

 the bony growth should be seated on the front and internal of the joint, 

 and this is partially correct, as such a growth will constitute a spavin in 

 the most correct sense of the term. But an enlargment may appear on 

 the upper part of the hock also, or possibly a little below the inner side _ 

 of the lower extremity of the shank bone, forming what is known as a 

 HIGH SPAVIN; or, again, the growth may form just on the outside of the 

 hock and become an outside or Externai, spavin. And, finallj', 

 the entire under surface may become the seat of the bony deposit, and 

 involve the internal face of al the bones of the hock, and this again is a 

 BONE SPAVIN. There would seem, then, to be but little difficulty in 

 comprehending the nature of a bone spavin, and there would be none 

 but for the fact that there are similar affections which might confuse if 

 careful and intelligent examination is not made. 



The hock may be spavined, while to all outward appearance it still 

 retains its perfect form. With no enlargement tangible to sight or touch 

 the animal may be disabled by an occult spavin, which has resulted 

 from a union of several of the bones of the joint, and it is only those 

 who are able to realize the importance of its action to the perfect fulfill- 

 ment of the full power of action of the hind leg, who can comprehend 

 the gravity of the trouble. No diseases, if we accept those acute inflam- 

 matory attacks upon vital organs to which the patient succumbs at once, 



