CURB. 307 
before the tendon displayed the slightest symptom of being affected. 
The membrane is also capable of displaying the signs of injury long 
after every trace may have disappeared from the tendon itself. 
The effect of the treatment at present adopted is to confirm the 
enlargement, or to change the swelling into a lump of callus, which will 
accompany the sufferer to its death. Curbs are said to be the inherit- 
ances of animals of a certain conformation. Horses born with what are 
termed curby hocks are asserted to be much exposed to this kind of 
accident. The author has, for many years, particularly inspected animals 
of this description; and he never recollects to have seen a curb upon a 
hock of that peculiar conformation. To be sure, no man is likely to 
select either a hunter or a racer from a tribe thus bearing upon their 
limbs the signs of weakness. The creatures are consequently exempted 
from the great provocatives of the accident. However, that the reader 
may fully comprehend what is meant by a curby hock, one is here repre- 
sented, together with a sound or naturally-formed, clean joint. 
A CLEAN HOCK. A CURBY HOCK, SLIGHTLY 
BULGING OUT BEHIND. 
The custom of blistering a horse the instant a curb appears is most 
injurious. Harm is done, in every point of view, by 
such a habit. The animal should have a high-heeled 
shoe put on immediately, so as to ease the overstrained 
tendon. The part ought then to be kept constantly wet 
with cold water, so as to lower or disperse the inflam- 
mation. It should not be blistered, to heat and increase 
the vascularity of the structures. A cloth, doubled | 
twice or thrice, is easily kept upon the hock by means 4y 1NDia-nuueer 
of an India-rubber bandage, of the form delineated in ING WET CLOMHS 
the accompanying engraving. Such a cloth, so placed, ia cabal 
is afterward to be made constantly cool and wet. 
This treatment should be continued; the animal being confined to the 
stall and made to move as little as possible, until the heat and swelling 
are diminished and the leg is almost sound. The part being quite cool, 
a blister should then be rubbed all over the joint; and with that this 
treatment, in the great majority of cases, is ended. On no account 
