CAUSES OF UNSOUNDNESS. 117 



variously-sized bony prominence, most readily 

 detected by manipulation with the hand, and com- 

 parison with the corresponding hock. Although 

 the difference may be slight, there ought not to be 

 a great deal of difficulty experienced in the detection 

 of spavin, provided that both hocks are compared 

 with the fingers of the same hand. Not only may 

 spavin be felt in this way, but it can also be seen by 

 observation, and anyone examining the hocks with 

 a view to detection of bone-spavin should place him- 

 self in front of the hind Umbs, and view the hocks 

 from an oblique direction. Normally, one hock may 

 be bigger than the other ; if so, it is a very difficult 

 matter to decide whether a hock is spavined or 

 not. Again, both hocks may be spavined. If so, 

 it is equally difficult to decide, unless there is a 

 difference in the size of the spavins. No matter 

 whether a bone-spavin is large or small, it renders 

 the animal unsound, because it may become lame 

 at any moment, and spavin lameness is often of 

 the most intractable nature. The size of a spavin 

 has nothing whatever to do with the degree of 

 lameness from this cause ; some very large bone 

 spavins never interfere with the utility of the 

 animal, whereas, an apparently insignificant one may 

 be a constant source of trouble to both the owner 



