308 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
30. Blood Spavin. 
This is an enlargement of the vein which 
runs down in front of the hock joint. 
Causes. — A weakened state of the wall of the 
vein is the cause. 
Symptoms. — There is an enlargement of tht 
vein, but the animal is not lame, nor does i; 
hurt the animal for any kind of work. It is ar 
eyesore and disagreeable blemish. 
Treatment. — There is no treatment for it. ^^f^ ^spl^ti. 
31. Open Joint. 
This condition may arise in any joint of the legs or other 
parts of the body. It is the result of injury sufficiently severe 
to penetrate the capsular ligament, allowing the joint oil to 
leak out. 
Causes. — A kick from another horse, a prod with a fork 
or running against a sharp obstacle may account for it. Ir 
may arise from a diseased condition of the joint. 
Symptoms. — There will be lameness and swelling around 
the injured joint and leaking from the hole of an oily looking 
substance which is the synovia or joint oil. If the leaking is 
not stopped, inflammation develops in the joint and destroys 
it. If he does get better, it leaves him with a stifif joint. 
Treatment. — The larger the joint the more troublesome 
is the treatment and the more danger there is of losing the 
animal. Do not bathe or apply any liniment, as it only in- 
creases the flow ^f joint oil. If the case is taken in time by 
applying Monsell's solution of iron in and around the hole 
every couple of hours with a feather, in most cases it com- 
pletely checks the running of the oil, and the animal recovers 
all right. This is the best treatment known for open joint. 
Keep him quiet and feed on soft food with plenty of boiled 
flaxseed in it to keep the bowels open. Sometimes after the 
joint is apparently healed for a couple of weeks it breaks out 
again. Treat this the same as at first until it closes the hole. 
After the joint is healed and it is still swollen, bathe with 
cold water and salt once a day. Bandage for a couple of 
hours after bathing, and every third day, after taking oflF the 
