On Mismanagement of Farm-Horses. 527 



of the strongest conformation to continued hard work, often gives 

 rise to diseases of tlie joints, by causing undue friction. To 

 reh'eve this friction an unusually large quantity of synovia is 

 poured out, as in bog-spavin. This palliation of the evil is often, 

 however, insufficient; the friction still continues, inflammation 

 extends from the synovial fringes to the cartilages ; and this 

 occurring in the hock, or in any of the larger joints, eventually 

 renders the animal useless. Friction occurring between tendons, 

 or between a tendon and any other tissue over which it moves, 

 gives rise to icind-galls, the most unfailing, although certainly not 

 the most serious^ consequence of hard work. They consist in 

 puffy swellings of the synovial bursae, or bags placed to facilitate 

 motion between different parts of the limb. They are usually 

 found about the fetlock, and generally in connection with the 

 bursas, between the tendo-perforans and tendo-perforatus, or 

 between the tendo-perforans and suspensory ligament. Although 

 various diseases of the foot appear in connection with over- 

 work, still they cannot be considered as depending upon it 

 aione^ but are rather induced by its co-operation with other 

 causes, such as peculiar formation of the feet, or improper 

 shoeing. In connection with these, overwork is a fertile cause 

 of corns, and also of contraction. Its influence in producing 

 laminitis will be noticed presently. 



The evils of overwork are very remarkahle in young horses, that 

 is, in animals below the age of five or six, because their strength 

 and power of endurance are not so great as in adult life, and their 

 bones, muscles, and all other structures are still growing rapidly, 

 and want firmness and solidity. On this account, hard work, or 

 any other depressing agent, produces its effects more speedily and 

 certainly before than after maturity. In some parts of the country 

 it is the practice to put horses to work much too young, often 

 many months before' they are three years old. Those who adopt 

 this practice generally advocate it on the principle that the 

 animals require exercise, and that such exercise is beneficial to 

 their growth. This is certainly undeniable ; but the exercise to 

 which the young horse is subjected is constant unremitting toil, 

 and not the healthful beneficial exercise which he requires, and 

 ■which he would naturally take. In consequence of such mis- 

 management, when the animal is five years old, instead of being 

 healthy, vigorous, well-formed, and full of animation, he is a 

 miserable, jaded, worn-out, dull, and spiritless creature ; his 

 limbs weak, and probably mis-shapen from injudicious wear and 

 tear ; his spirit crushed by the hard usage received in urging him 

 to tasks to which his strength was unequal ; and if not absolutely 

 unsound, his debilitated constitution renders him an easy victim 

 to many serious diseases. In short, from an ill-judged economy, 



