SPAVIN. 989 
hind extremity, it now becomes our duty to explain what actually con- 
stitutes a spavin. Any bony growth or bony enlargement, however 
small, which is to be seen or felt upon the inner side of the hock, is a 
“spavin.” But of spavins there are three kinds. The low sort, or the 
“Jack” of the horse-dealer’s phraseology. This answers to the splint 
of the fore leg, and originates in the top of the splint bone. 
A SHIN-BONE HAVING AN OSSEOUS DEPOSIT UPON THE INNER SIDE OF THE HOCK AF- 
ITS HEAD AND ON TIE INNER SIDE, WHICH FLICTED WITH HIGH OR INCUR- 
MIGHT BE A SPLINT OR A SPAVIN, AS IT OC- ABLE SPAVIN. 
CURRED UPON THE FRE OR HIND LEG. 
The bony enlargement, should it be located comparatively high upon 
the joint, often produces acute and incurable lameness. When low 
down, the granules of bone have little to interfere with. Being placed 
higher up, the tendons have to play over the osseous deposit; and, when 
that happens, the cure is hopeless. 
_ The above form of disease, however, does not ensue upon every case 
of spavin. Many good racers, and most seasoned hunters, have spavins, 
which do not in any way detract from their speed, however much these 
growths may interfere with their action. 
Bony spavin does, when the quadruped starts, sensibly deteriorate that 
THE NATURAL POSITION OF THE HEALTHY FOOT THE FOOT, INCAPABLE OF BEING FREELY 
WHEN RAISED FROM THE EARTH DURING AN RAISED FROM THE GROUND, BY A HORSE 
EASY TROT, WHICH 18 BADLY SPAVINED. 
grace of motion which should characterize the action of the perfect 
horse. During the trot, the leg should be lifted clear of the earth, 
19 
