500 SPBAIlf OP THE FLEXOE TENDONS. 



Jffvrmg and Blistering. — In severe eases, or when the injury 

 has been neglected, it wffl in all probability be necessary to fire 

 and blister the patient ; these measures, however, should not 

 be resorted to at the onset. The animal should be treated for 

 two or three weeks prior to these operations being performed, 

 as directed in page 499 ; then fire and blister the limb, and 

 place the animal in a roomy, comfortable box, and there allow 

 him to remain for two or three months afterwards. 



Por every particular relating to Firing and Blistering, and 

 the treatment of the animal after being operated upon, see 

 remarks contained in pages 161 to 176. 



SPAVIN. 



Spavin, Navicular Disease, Eing Bone, and Sprain of the 

 metacarpal ligamen,t, are perhaps the worst forms of disease 

 and lameness arising therefrom, which can possibiy attack the 

 locomotive apparatus of the horse. 



Spavin is well known to be a disease which affects the hock. 

 Its predisposing causes are bad formation of the limbs ; these 

 are hereditary causes. The exciting causes are sprain of the 

 joint, and injuries arising from violent concussion to the small 

 bones of the hock. 



As Spavin is a disease of common occurrence, and one the 

 pathology of which is far from being generally understood, I 

 will endeavour to place before the reader such leading facts, in 

 relation to it, as will enable him at least to comprehend its 

 principal features. 



Without entering into elaborate details respecting the 

 anatomy and physiology of the hock, I may state that its uses 

 are twofold : first, it facilitates the motion of the limb ; and 

 secondly, it resists concussion. A reference to the engraving 

 (page 502), which represents the inner surface of the joint (a 



