174 The Diseases of Anineals 
When there is a small flabby bunch on a horse’s elbow, 
removing the fibrous contents will prevent a shoe-boil. 
Capped Hock 
This disease occurs at the point of the hock and is 
usually caused either by lying on the hock or by the 
irritation due to the repeated hitting of a whiffle-tree, 
chain or other obstacle. The abscess or tumor is usually 
much smaller than that on a capped elbow. The symp- 
toms and treatment are the same. 
Synovial Capped Hock 
This condition, showing beneath the tendon that 
passes over the point of the hock, is practically the 
same as a wind-puff, and should have similar treat- 
ment. (See “Wind-puffs,” page 239.) 
Open Joint 
A wound that is likely to prove serious or fatal 
is one that opens the tissues over the joint so that 
the synovial fiuid, or joint-oil, will escape. These 
wounds are generally very small incisions, often result - 
ing from kicks, especially from horses that are sharp 
shod, from prods with a pitchfork or similar sharp 
object. They would be insignificant as wounds were not 
the joint opened. 
At first there are few symptoms—a trifling wound 
from which a small amount of blood escapes. If the 
wound is examined carefully, a small amount of watery, 
