On Mismanagement of Farm-Horses. 



543 



cataract. Indeed, the highest perfection of form has frequently 

 been mistaken for disease. Many animals have been condemned 

 as spavined on account of the remarkable development of the 

 natural roughened eminences on the antero-internal part of the 

 hock around the anterior and inner part of the cuneiform bones. 

 This conformation, however, instead of showing weakness or 

 disease, gives strength and power by affording mechanical ad- 

 vantage for the insertion of muscles and tendons. The natural 

 ridge extending round the small pastern-bone is also apt, when 

 prominently developed, to be mistaken for ring-hone. True ring- 

 bone, however, is situated lower down, and immediately above 

 the upper part of the hoof, and often exists in only one limb ; 

 whereas the ridges and tuberosities to which we have referred 

 will be found alike in both limbs, and only in limbs which show 

 in other parts considerable irregularities and asperities. The 

 sulcae and cavities found in the cartilages of the larger joints 

 have, by some, been mistaken for ulcerations; and one gentle- 

 man, of high standing in the profession,, has stated that the 

 presence of these cavities in the hock-joint was the cause of 

 obscure hock lameness. Unfortunately, however, for the credit 

 of this opinion, such cavities are found in many, nay, in most, 

 sound hocks, and are placed there for the important and express 

 purpose of spreading the synovia, or joint-oil, over all parts of the 

 joint. They have many characteristics which distinguish them 

 from cavities caused by inflammation: their edges are smooth 

 and glistening, and they are lined with vascular synovial fringes. 

 These few instances show the want of skill of some practitioners 

 in mistaking healthy for diseased conditions, and strengthen our 

 conviction that the veterinary practitioner should have an accurate 

 knowledge of healthy structure and functions, as well as of 

 morbid structure and functions ; or, in other words, of anatomy 

 and physiology, as well as of pathology. 



There is, perhaps, no class of cases which brings the skill of 

 the veterinary surgeon to a severer test than injuries or diseases 

 of the extremities, or, as they are significantly termed, lamenesses. 

 In the horse these are very numerous ; they occur in almost 

 every part and tissue of the limbs, and are sometimes difficult to 

 detect, as they are often concealed from view, not being perceptible 

 except by nice manipulation, while their symptoms are apt to be 

 falsely interpreted. A knowledge of the anatomy and physiology 

 of the parts affected, and a certain amount of experience and of 

 manual tact and dexterity, are the only sure means of detecting 

 lamenesses and arriving at their accurate diagnosis and prognosis. 



Want of medical skill in professional attendants is now much 

 less common than it was even a few years ago ; and in most lo- 

 calities where agriculture is in an advanced condition, and stock 

 numerous and valuable, there are to be met with veterinary 



