On Mismanagement of Farm- Horses. 



539 



nections between the hoof and the vascular parts of the foot, in- 

 volving sometimes the coffin-bone itself; and months of patient 

 and unremitting care are often ineffectual in restoring the parts 

 to health. 



Before leaving this head, we purpose briefly noticing a few of 

 those diseases of the extremities which are most apt to be aggra- 

 vated hy inattention to their incipient symptoms. There is no 

 case in which neglect of a simple ailment so frequently and cer- 

 tainly induces serious and permanent disease as in that very com- 

 mon affection termed strain of the back tendons. This often at 

 first consists in the laceration of only a few tendinous fibres^ 

 which with rest soon reunite, and the animal is restored to sound- 

 ness. But if kept at work, the laceration increases, violent in- 

 flammation is established, and thickening contraction and perma- 

 nent unsoundness are the inevitable consequences. Bone spavin, 

 when noticed early, is sometimes checked by rest and soothing 

 treatment ; the different parts of the hock being thus kept sound 

 and perfect. When spavins, however, are not early attended to, 

 and especially if the horse continues at work, the inflammation 

 attains such intensity that it cannot be subdued until ossification 

 has taken place between some of the bones forming the hock. It 

 is to hurry on this unavoidable termination that blisters, firing, 

 and such other remedies are so often employed ; but the cure is 

 accomplished only at the expense of entire loss of motion between 

 the several bones forming the lower part of the hock; and although 

 the animal may go sound, he always goes stiff. A similar result 

 obtains in the case of curb. This consists in a strain of the cal- 

 caneo-cuboid ligament — a ligament which passes down the postera- 

 internal surface of the os calcis, or prominent bone of the hock. 

 It is at first tolerably easy of cure ; but if neglected or improperly 

 managed, thickening and ossification take place. Spavins, or, as 

 they are called by way of distinction, bog-spavins, also afford a good 

 illustration of the retributive justice which overtakes neglect of 

 the incipient symptoms of disease. In these cases we find in the 

 first instance the capsular ligament of the hock-joint distended by 

 an excessive quantity of synovia, secreted to lessen the irritation 

 set up by previous friction. Unless there be a repetition of the 

 exciting cause, this curative effort of nature may be successful, 

 and with rest soundness may be restored. If, however, sufficient 

 time be not allowed for a perfect cure, the joint becomes perma- 

 nently thickened by deposition of lymph ; and sometimes even 

 osseous matter is produced, uniting the bones of the hock into 

 one unyielding bony pillar. I have seen several specimens of such 

 cases of anchylosis of the bones of the hock, resulting from disease 

 of the joint, and in which all parts of the hock were ossified except 

 the tendons and the grooves in which they lay. 



