SPAVIN. 251 



in a short time, to permanently destroy tlie free action of the 

 affected joint. The prompt use of the iron (taliinjj; care not t« 

 open a joint) is the best means to arrest the diseased action, and 

 cause the absorption of the bony material which has already been 

 deposited. If the horse goes on his lieel, use a thin rocker shoe 

 (p. 197) ; if on his toe, employ a liigh-heeled shoe. 



The operation of neurotomy is specially indicated in chronic 

 cases of lameness from ringbone. It not infrequently stimulates 

 the absorption of the bony deposit. 



Bone Spavin. 



DEFINITION AND ANATOMY.— A bone spavin is a bony en- 

 largement whicli, as a result of disease, forms on the inside and 



Fig- 93- Fig- 94- 



Spavin. No Spavin. 



lower part of the hook (Figs. 93, 96 and 97). A,s a rule, the 

 term spavin is used as referring to bone spavin, except when " bog 

 spavin " is specially mentioned. 



In the hock— Figs. 98 (p. 255) and 129 and 130 (p. 323)— we have the true 

 hock joint formed by the astragalus and tibia, which serves for the bending 

 and straightening of the leg ; and to aid in the adjustment of weight during 

 movement, there are six or seven (according as the middle cuneiform con- 

 sists of one or two parts) small bones placed between the cannon bone and 

 astragalus, so as to form joints possessed of a certain amount of gliding 

 motion. 



Viewed from the front (Fig. 129), we see that the astragalus rests on the 

 large cuneiform bone ; the large cuneiform, on the middle cuneiform ; and 

 the middle cuneiform, on the cannon bone. On the inner side (Fig. 98) the 

 small cuneiform rests on the small inner splint bone and also on the cannon 

 bone, and affords support to the large cuneiform. On the outer side of the 



