568 
REVIEWS. 
opinion, by calkins placed on the 
outer heel. ‘ The weight and con- 
cussion/ he goes on to add, ‘ which 
are thus thrown on the inner splint- 
bone produce, in the first place, 
inflammation of the cartilaginous 
substance which unites it to the 
shank-bone. The consequence of 
this is, that the cartilage is absorbed, 
and bone deposited ; the union 
between the split-bone and the shank 
becomes bony instead of cartilagi- 
nous ; the degree of elastic action 
between them is destroyed, and 
there is formed a splint of the hind 
leg. This is uniformly on the inside 
of the hind leg, because the greater 
weight and concussion are thrown 
on the inner splint-bones. As in 
the fore leg, the disposition to form 
bony matter having commenced, and 
the cause which produced it con- 
tinuing to act, bone continues to be 
deposited, and it appears generally 
in the form of a tumour, where the 
head of the splint-bone is united with 
the shank, and in front of that union. 
This is called bone-spavin. Inflam- 
mation of the ligaments of any of the 
small bones of hock, proceeding to 
bony tumour, would equally class 
under the name of spavin, but with 
very few exceptions, the disease 
commences on the precise spot we 
have described.’ In both cause and 
effect, Mr. Percivall and Mr. Youatt 
therefore regard spavin and splint as 
the same ; it is the locality only 
which alters the name. But is the 
identity quite so clear F In the last 
edition of the Veterinary Out- 
lines I conceive that I also erred in 
straining this analogy too closely, by 
which wrong conclusions on the 
cause, seat, and consequences of the 
complaint may probably be formed. 
Mr. Percivall himself, seemingly 
aware of this, observes : ‘ If, however, 
the inflammation extends from this 
cartilago-ligamentous substance i. e., 
that which connects the inner small 
metatarsal with the cannon) to 
the ligaments and bones of the hock, 
and terminates there in effusion of 
bony matter ; or if the exostosis of 
the inner metatarsal bone itself is 
so placed as to disturb the motions 
natural course, or to fall from a 
height downwards, to make no men- 
tion of its being nearer to the heart. 
In the hind limb, the stream is im- 
peded by making several bends in its 
course to the foot, placing entirely 
on one side the circumstance of its 
being further removed from the cen- 
tre of supply. Can any inference be 
drawn from the foregoing state- 
ments ? The reader is left to reply. 
Spavin may be characterised as 
exostosis of some one or more of the 
tarsal bones, or ossific inflammation 
of the ligaments which connect them 
with each other. It may also be con- 
sidered, that it has no determinate 
seat, but is much more often found 
on the inner, than the outer side of 
the hock. It is also true, that its 
effects are not to be measured by the 
dimensions of the exostosis, as these 
are sometimes great without corres- 
ponding lameness ; and that it is a 
character of the affection founded on 
the lessened irritability and in- 
creased deposition which warmth, 
friction, and mental excitement occa- 
sion, to render the horse less lame as 
he progresses ; which symptom will 
assist to distinguish it from other 
affections. A spavin of the cunei- 
form bones usually lames more than 
that which is lower down and joins 
them to the metatarsals. Neither 
do spavins, when arrived at a certain 
state, usually increase ; consequently 
spavined horses for some purposes 
may prove useful. In moderate and 
slow work they are even frequently 
amended ; but in bad cases the fear 
of lying down prevents their thriving. 
Thus post-masters and stage-coach 
drivers were not often willing to 
purchase badly spavined horses, or 
any others with permanent lame- 
nesses behind, although they did 
not reject the foundered or groggy 
horse. Lamenesses before force the 
horse to lie down; those behind 
often hinder him doing so, owing to 
an instinctive dread, that when once 
down he cannot rise again ; and the 
persons alluded to were well aware 
that the horse who lies most can 
work best. 
“ Treatment of Bone Spavin . — This 
