194 : 
Coarse hocks are not necessarily to be regarded unfavourably, as they 
commonly become finer, as the young animal matures in age. If, however 
there be any dissimilarity in the size of the two hocks, or if there be any 
lameness, our suspicions are aroused. If the hocks are coarse in an old 
horse, and there is no alteration in the animal’s gait, lameness very rarely 
indeed results. It is fortunate that in horses six years old and under, spavin 
is generally amenable to treatment. In old animals therapeutic measures 
are of little avail. ; 
Spavin lameness is sometimes difficult to distinguish from alteration 
of the progression owing to other causes. Hip lameness, we should 
remember, causes stiffness of the whole limb; and ‘there are generally 
tenderness, heat, and swelling at the hip, in such cases. The toe also is | 
dragged along the ground in hip lameness. Regarding the judgment we 
may pass upon the spavin, we may point out that animals with well-shaped- 
hocks, as a rule, more speedily recover, and are less likely to have a renewal 
of the inflammatory process, than others with badly-shaped hocks. Spavin 
also is more damaging to an animal required for fast and heavy work, than 
for one employed for lighter work at a slower pace. A spavin situated 
internally is, as we have pointed out already, less likely to interfere with the 
progression, than one situated on the front of the joint ; and low spavins, we 
also mentioned, were less likely to cause lameness than high ones. 
Moreover, when the true hock joint is implicated, there is but little chance 
of recovery. Bony deposits, situated at the back part of the inner surface of 
the hock,.do not often cause much lameness. In animals well shapen, a 
spavin is not likely to be so damaging as in long-backed horses, badly 
ribbed up, having poor appetites. When the deposit is associated with 
string-halt, or causes any other disease by its presence, the prognosis is not 
so favourable. : 
In those instances where there is no external sign of any bony deposit, 
even although there may be very marked lameness, the disease is spoken of 
as occult spavin. In occult spavin, no bony deposit is thrown out, but the 
inflammatory action results in ulceration of the contiguous surfaces of the 
bones, and is not followed by any reparative process. Our readers will 
understand that spavins, like splints and other such bony growths, are in 
reality “‘nature’s means of fortification against more serious failures.” In 
occult spavin, this reparative’ process of bone formation, in order to make 
good the loss by ulceration, does not occur; and therefore there is no 
external sign of the disease. Occult spavin is more grave and intractable 
than ordinary spavin. It is of much more frequent occurrence in old 
animals than in younger ones. 
We may now say a few words regarding the means of detecting spavin, 
and then proceed with the treatment of this common disease. In spavin 
lameness, there are some points specially noteworthy. There is a lack of 
bending at the hock joint. The lameness, as a rule, is less marked, after 
the animal has been exercised for a time. The step will be noticed to be on 
the toe, at which part the shoe is consequently more worn, than elsewhere. 
