GAPPED HOCK 513 



and is ready for work in twenty days, almost entirely cured. 

 The secret of success lies in the prevention of infection 

 and in the immobilization of the leg with the brace. 



Capped Hock. 



This hygroma is caused by lying upon the unbedded 

 floor, and sometimes by kicking against the stall. It is a 

 subcutaneous hygroma, but sometimes implicates the bursa 

 of the flexor pedis perforatus. It is one of the formidable 

 accidents of horses. In good horses it is a veritable calam- 

 ity on account of the great liability to end in a chronic con- 

 spicuous enlargement. 



TREATMENT.— The first step is to determine the 

 cause and control it. Treatment is futile if the cause is ex- 

 tant. In proceeding, against them there is the choice of 

 three methods: (i) Repeated aseptic aspirations, (2) 

 medical applications, and (3) lancing. The first and second 

 are sometimes successful if the patient is kept standing for 

 two to three weeks and not permitted to irritate the seat of 

 injury by moving about. Decumbency, kicking against the 

 stall, and exercise are positively harmful. by stimulating a 

 new quota as fast as it is aspirated or absorbed. The third 

 method (lancing) is probably the best, although it will leave 

 an indelible blemish if the wound and the cavity are allowed 

 to become infected, and may even result disastrously by ex- 

 tension of • the infective inflammation to the underlying 

 bursa. The success of the operation depends upon asepsis 

 throughout the entire period of exposure and immobiliza- 

 tion. The latter is not as easily effected as in the fore-limb, 

 because braces applied to the pelvic limb are opposed by the 

 patient, and can not very well be retained in position. 



The modus operandi of evacuating the capped hock is as 

 follows : The patient is restrained with the twitch and side 

 line. The inferior part of the sac is shaved and disinfected 

 with mercuric chloride 1-500 and then perforated with a 

 small lance. When the fluid has been squeezed out the 

 opening is wadded with antiseptic cotton. The horse is tied 

 up' in a narrow and short single stall which restricts move- 

 ment and prevents kicking against the pillars. The after- 

 care consists of daily injections of adrenalin chloride 1-1000 

 under the strictest aseptic precaution, and wadding of the 

 wound to prevent infection. Injections of sterilized methy- 

 line blue- 2% are also markedly effectual in arresting the 

 secretion and promoting prompt cicatrization. 



