BOG AND BLOOD SPAVIK 165 



them on the mside of the hock at its bending. This soii«otimes 

 becomes considerably increased in size, and the enlargement is 

 called a bog-spavin. A vein passes over the hag, which is piess- 

 ed between the enlargement and the skin, and the passage of the 

 blood through it is impeded ; the vein is consequently distended 

 by the accumulated blood, and the distention reaches from this 

 bag as low down as the next valve. This is called blood-spavin. 

 Blood-spavin then is the consequence of bog-spavin. It very 

 rarely occurs, and is, in the majority of instances, confounded with 

 bog-spavin. 



Blood-spavin does not always cause lameness, except the horse 

 is very hard worked ; but this, as weU as bog-spavin, constitutes 

 unsoundness, and materially lessens the value of the horse. The 

 proper treatment is to endeavor to promote the absorption of the 

 contents of the bag. This may be attenipted by pressure long 

 appUed. A bandage may be contrived to take in the whole of 

 the hock, except its point ; and a compress made of folded linen 

 being placed on the bog-spavin, may confine the principal pres- 

 sure to that part. It is, however, very difficult to adapt a 

 bandage to a joint which admits of such extensive motion ; 

 therefore most practitioners apply two or three successive blisters 

 over the enlargement, when it usually disappears. Unfortunately, 

 however, it returns if any extraordinary exertion is required from 

 the horse.* 



* Note by Mr. Spooner. — Much error appears to have prevailed with 

 regard to bog-spavins. We speak with confidence, and after numerous dis- 

 sections, when we say, that this disease does not occur from the distention 

 of any mucous bags, and, therefore, there is no possibility of cutting tliera 

 out. A bog-spavin is neither more nor less than a distention of the capsular 

 ligament of the joint itself; so that, if we cut into it, we open the joint, and 

 endanger the life of the animaL There are different degrees of severity in 

 which this disease may exist ; it may be merely an increased secretion of 

 synovia, so as to distend the ligament, and in such ca.se it is readily curable ; 

 or, it may be, as it more frequently is, a rupture of the connections of the 

 ligament with the bones, so as not only to distend, but actually to enlarge, 

 the cavity of the joint. In the latter instance, though the disease may be 

 tcmpoi-arily removed, it generally recurs, with work. When lameness attends 

 bog-spavin, there is usually no little degree of inflammation on the syiioviai 

 membrane of the joint ; and, in cases of long standing, the synovial fluid 

 becomes solid, and causes permanent stiffness. Thoroughpins, are the same 

 aiorbid affection as the bog-spavin, but affecting the upper and back part 

 of the joint, and on each side. 



With regard to the blood-spavin, the vein, as it passes up the leg, may 

 certainly be somewhat obstructed by a bog-spavin: and, consequently, a 

 little enlarged; but so slightly, that we believe that the bog and blood 

 spavin of the old farriers Avere one and the same thing, the vein, from its 

 proximity being supposed to feed the enlargement. 



The best treatment for these enlargements is, next to the actual cautery, 

 the repeated application of the iodide of mercury, which both operates as a 

 hlistor, as well as specifically, on the absorbent.-*. 



