200 the; horsb. 



found on both hocks they are not spavins, is wrong. If they are dis- 

 discovered on both hocks, it proves that they are not confined to a 

 single joint. 



The pecuHar lameness of bone spavin, as it affects the motion of the 

 hock joint, presents two conditions. In one class of cases it is most pro- 

 nounced when the horse is cool, in the' other when he is at work. The 

 first is shown by the fact that when the animal travels the toe first 

 touches the ground, and the heel descends more slowly, the motion of 

 bending at the hock taking place stiffly, and accompanied by a dropping 

 of the hip on the opposite side. In the other case the peculiarity is that 

 the lameness increases as the horse travels; that when he stops he seeks 

 to favor the same leg, and when he resumes his work soon after he steps 

 much on his toe, as in the first variety. 



As with sidebones, though for a somewhat different reason, the di- 

 mensions of the spavin and the degree of the lameness do not seem to 

 bear any relation, the greatest lameness at times accompanying a very 

 small growth. But the distinction between the two varieties of cool and 

 WARM may easily be determined by remembering the fact that in a ma- 

 jority of cases the first, or cool, is due to a simple exostosis, while the 

 second is generally connected with disease of the articulation, such as 

 ulceration of the articular surface. 



It is seldom that the advantage of an early knowledge of a spavin ex- 

 isting can be secured, and when the true nature of the trouble has be- 

 come apparent it is usually too late to resort to the remedial measures 

 which, if duly forewarned, might have been employed. But for the loss 

 of the time waited in the treatment of purely imaginary ailments very 

 many cases of bone spavin may be arrested when starting and their vic- 

 tims preserved for years of comfort for themselves and valuable labor to 

 their owners. 



To consider a hypothetical case: An early discovery of lameness has 

 been made; that is, the existence of an acute inflammation has been de- 

 tected. The increased temperature of the parts has been observed, with 

 the stiffened gait and the peculiar pose of the limbs and the question is 

 asked, "What is to be done?" Even with only these very doubtful 

 symptoms (doubtful with the non-expert) direct your treatment to the 

 hock in preference to any other joint, since of all the joints of the hind 

 leg it is this which is most liable to be attacked, a natural result from its 

 peculiarities of structure and function. And in answer to the query, 

 "What is to be done?" we should answer rest, (emphatically, and as 



