tvro weeks. If in the winter, use an extra blanket. If in summeri 

 give cut grass to eat. 



Hip-joint Disease. — Happily, this is a very rare disease in 

 horses, and does not make its appearance so soon as in man. It 

 is always the result of accident or injury, and is a joint affection — 

 not of the muscles, because the mass of muscles are so very great 

 over the hip, that it is not an easy matter to sprain them. I speak 

 of this here, because among horsemen it is a great bug-bear, often 

 occurring in their ideas ; whereas in ninety -nine cases out of a 

 hundred of their so-called hip and whirl bone disease, the lameness 

 will be found in the hock-joint. Why do they jump at the con- 

 clusion that the lameness is in the hip ? Because in every move- 

 ment of the hock-joint, the vibration or hitch is more distinctly 

 seen by the altered action of the muscles of the hip, as when the 

 hock-joint moves but partially, and not completely, it is not so 

 readily seen at the hock as at the hip. Hence, this is but the old 

 adage, cause and effect ; in this case the horseman has them re- 

 versed. (See Spavin.) 



Symptoms. Lowness or falling in of the hip ; a peculiar manner 

 of moving, not indicating inability as is seen in fracture of the 

 pelvis bone, but of great pain and difficulty ; not yielding or bend- 

 ing low down on that quarter when the horse takes a step. The 

 leg appears shorter, and is placed, when standing, slightly under 

 the body, and not doubled up, or standing upon the toe as is seen 

 in cases of hock-joint disease. 



Treatment. Absolute and entire rest for a few weeks. The ap 

 plication of cold water cloths over the hip, taking them off at 

 night, and applying them in the morning again. This will hava 

 to be kept up for a week, at least, so that all heat and tenderness 

 will be removed before any irritant can be used to the parts. 

 (Never apply hot liniments to a part already too hot and painful.) 

 Then apply by rubbing with the hand over the parts, every second 

 day, the following : Oil of turpentine, one ounce ; oil of cloves, two 

 ounces ; creosote, one ounce. Mix. This will not only act as an 

 irritant, but as a powerful sedative to the nerves of the parts, caus- 

 ing relief from pain, so that the animal can be made useful. 



Hock, The. — This is an important joint or part of the horse, 

 and is the seat of many diseases, causing lameness. In the 



