ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 119 



Blood-spavin is an enlargement of a large vein running up 

 the leg. It is usually caused by the .pressure of a bog-spavin 

 damming the flow of the blood in the vein (Figure 79). 



Capped hock, like capped elbow, is, in its first stage, a 

 blister (Figure 80) . Its seat is the point of the hock. It is, 

 when first formed, easily removed, causes no lameness, but 

 points to bad stable habits, and is unsightly. ' 



A curb is a protuberance on the back of the hind leg, six 

 inches or so below the point of the hock. It is caused by "a 

 sprain of the tendon, which passes on the posterior of the hock, 

 or of one of its sheaths, or of the strong ligament situated on 

 the posterior border of the upper bone of the hock."* 



It is shown by a bulging backwards of the posterior part of 

 the hock, interrupting what should be a straight line between 

 the point of the hock and the fetlock. 



The inflammation in a curb, when it first appears, should 

 be subdued by cold applications, and the further treatment of 

 it left to a veterinarian. 



Curb is an unsoundness, and a permanent disfigurement. 

 Its commonest cause is making a horse stop suddenly when at 

 a rapid gait, thus throwing an excessive strain on the back 

 ligaments of the hock. 



Lymphangitis is a disease of the lymph-ducts (small ves- 

 sels carrying nourishment to the tissues), near the skin. It is 

 manifested by an unsightly, permanent thickening of the skin. 

 It is not, in its first steps, disabling, but is a serious blemish. 



Splints occur sometimes in the hind leg, but less often than 

 in front. The pasterns of the hind leg slope less than those in 

 front. They are more liable to ringbones than the front ones. 

 Sidebones are very rare in the hind foot. 



*Page 349, " Diseases of the Horse," Bureau of Animal industry, 

 1903. 



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