WIND-GALLS. 317 
haps, small; but the credit of demonstrating what they actually were— 
which demanded a more elevated talent—remains with Mr. Varnell. 
Wind-galls are fond of the hind leg; or rather, the hinder limbs do 
the heaviest portion of the horse’s work; there- 
fore these deformities are commonly found on 
those members. There may be one or three 
on both sides of each leg: they generally are 
quiescent; but occasionally they prove wind- 
galls to be something more than the simple 
blemishes which man is pleased to esteem them. 
After a hard run it is not unusual to hear a 
huntsman complain that the wind-galls have 
disappeared and the back sinews of his hunter 
have become puffy. When that occurs, the 
entire sheath suffers excessive irritation, and 
has enlarged, The horse is then very lame, 
but a day or two of rest reduces the sudden 
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF WIND-GALLS 
enlargement, and the animal recovers its sound- aN» ™E purrINrss of THE SYNO- 
VIAL MEMBRANE, PROPER TO THE 
ness. FLEXOR TENDONS, WHICH ENSUES. 
. . . . UPON EXCESSIVE LABOR. 
Sometimes, however, repeated irritation starts 
up a new action; the secretion becomes turbid, displays enormous float- 
ing threads of cartilage and occasional sanguineous infiltration; the sac 
enlarges; the walls begin to thicken; the tumor feels less pulpy and more 
firm; it grows harder. First becomes cartilage, and ultimately may be 
converted into bone. Mr. Gowing, of Camden Town, has a fine spe- 
cimen of this species of disease. 
During these changes the animal is very lame; yet wind-galls are so 
lightly esteemed by horsemen as scarcely to lessen the price of a steed; 
they are, in general, accounted hardly worth mentioning, although men 
have been known to be strangely anxious to have them removed. This, 
however, is not easy to bring about; all the common methods are worse 
than useless; the only treatment which promises any benefit is the appli- 
cation of pressure. Fold a piece of soft rag several times; saturate the 
rag with water; lay upon the wetted rag one drachm each of opium 
and of camphor; put these upon the enlargement. Upon the moistened 
rag place a piece of cork big enough to cover the wind-gall, and of such 
a thickness as may be necessary; above the cork lace on a vulcanized 
India-rubber bandage. Constant and equal pressure will by these 
means be kept up; however, mind the groom be strictly ordered to 
take the bandage off the leg the last thing when the horse leaves 
the stable, and to put it on again immediately on the animal’s return; 
otherwise, the proprietor may chance to enter the building and find his 
