SPAVIN. 



295 



slowly, the motion of flexion at the hock taking place stifly, and 

 accompanied by a dropping of the hip on the opposite side. In the 

 other case the peculiarity is that the lameness increases as the horse 

 travels ; that when he stops he seeks to favor the lame leg, and when 

 he resumes his work soon after he steps much on his toe, as in the 

 first variety. 



As with sidebones, though for a somewhat different reason, the 

 dimensions of the spavin and the degree of the lameness do not seem 

 to bear any determinate relation, the most pronounced symptoms at 

 times accompanying a very diminutive growth. But the distinction 

 between the two varieties of cool and warm may easily be determined 

 by remembering the fact that in a majority of cases the first, or cool, 

 is due to a simple exostosis, while the second is generally connected 

 with disease of the articulation, such as ulceration of the articular 

 surface — a condition which, as we proceed further, will meet our 

 attention when we reach the subject of stringhalt. 



An excellent test for spavin lameness, which may be readily ap- 

 plied, consists in lifting the affected leg off the ground foF one or two 

 minutes and holding the foot high so as to flex all the joints. An 

 assistant, with the halter strap in his hand, quickly starts the animal 

 off in a trot, when, if the hock joint is affected, the lameness will be 

 so greatly intensified as to readily lead to a diagnosis. 



Prognosis. — ^Having thus fully considered the history of bone 

 spavin, we are prepared to give due weight to the reasons which exist 

 for the adverse prognosis which we must usually feel compelled to 

 pronounce when encountering it in practice, as well as to realize the 

 importance of early discovery. It is but seldom, however, that the 

 necessary advantage of this early knowledge can be secured, and when 

 the true nature of the trouble has become apparent it is usually too 

 late to resort to the remedial measures which, if duly forewarned, a 

 skillful practitioner might have employed. We are fully persuaded 

 that but for the loss of the time wasted in the treatment of purely 

 imaginary ailments very many cases of bone spavin might be arrested 

 in their incipiency and their victims preserved for years of comfort 

 for themselves and valuable labor to their owners. 



Treatment. — To consider a hypothetical case: An early discovery 

 of lameness has been made; that is, the existence of an acute inflam- 

 mation — of periostitis — ^has been detected. The increased tempera- 

 ture of the parts has been observed, with the stiffened gait and the 

 characteristic pose of the limb, and the qu^tion is proposed for solu- 

 tion, What is to be done? Even with only these comparatively 

 doubtful symptoms — doubtful with the nonexpert — ^we should direct 

 our treatment to the hock in preference to any other joint, since of 

 all the joints of the hind leg it is this which is most liable to be 

 attacked, a natural result from its peculiarities of structure and 



