WINDGALLS. 321 



be symptoms of grave injury, such as that of sprain of neighbour- 

 ing parts ; their presence, when uncomplicated by other affections, 

 rarely diminishes the usefulness of an animal ; and consequently, 

 they should not, as a rule, be interfered with. 



GENERAL TREATMENT.— The best thing to do, if practicable, 

 is to employ massage (p. 675), and apply pressure by means of 

 cotton wadding (p. 44), or other soft material. If this cannot be 

 done, and heat and inflammation are present, use warm fomenta- 

 tions ; put the horse on laxative food ; and give a purgative if 

 necessary. When applicable, employ a high-heeled shoe (Fig. 4, 

 p. 27), in order to throw the part into a state of rest. Trusses 

 made for the reduction of bog spavins and thoroughpins may be 

 used. As a rule they are diflScult to adjust properly. The con- 

 tinued application of tincture or liniment of iodine, rubbed in 

 twice a day, has been found to be of service in some cases. Blisters 

 and rest may cause absorption for the time being ; but the dis- 

 tension will generally reappear as bad as ever on the resumption 

 of work. 



When there is no inflammation or abnormal heat in the part, 

 the excess of synovia may be safely drawn off by means of an 

 aspirator ; provided that strict antiseptic precautions (p. 70) are 

 observed. The operation, to be successful, must be performed 

 with skill and great care. As it is attended with risk, and 

 offers little or no practical benefit, it is not often wise to attempt 

 it, especially with bog spavin, in which case the failure of the 

 antiseptic precautions would be followed by open joint, and as a 

 result of that, by a permanently stiff hock joint, if not by death. 



\srindgalls of the Fetlock. 



These may be said to be a distended condition of the synovial 

 bursae of the fetlock. They appear at first in the form of soft, 

 " puffy " swellings, which may vary, in" magnitude, from the size of 

 a pea, to that of a hen's egg, or even larger. From the presence of 

 inflammation, they may become hard from becoming converted into 

 fibrous tissue or bone. 



ANATOMY. — ^The usual positions they occupy are as follows: — 1. In the 

 space between the branches of the suspensory ligament and the perforans 

 tendon : this is their usual site. 2. " In the interval between the perf oratus 

 and perforans tendons, about two '.nches above the sesamoid bones ; indeed, 

 the sac of the windgaU, fiom surrounding attachments to its borders, 

 appears as though it gave passage to the perforans tendon through its 

 cavity ; tjiough this appearance, in point of fact, is owing to the membrane 

 of the bursa being reflected upon the surface of the tendon " (Perdvall). 

 3. In front of the fetlock under the tendon which extends the foot. The 



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