THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
649 
clothing. If this should not succeed, and the animal is in high 
condition, the bleeding may be repeated. A rowel or seton may 
be opened contiguous to the affected part, and the part itself 
may be blistered. These last remedies are scarcely ever required 
in this country, as the disease usually disappears under the first 
mode recommended. 
Spavins and Splents. 
There is a small bone attached by ligaments to each side of 
the upper part of the common bones forming the lower parts of 
the hock and knee joints. These small bones are termed the 
metatarsal bones in the hocks, and metacarpal in the knees. One 
of their chief properties is to receive part of the weight of the 
animal when in action ; and their respective ligaments, elongating 
each time the weight of the animal descends, acts as a natural 
spring to prevent concussion ; for there is no animal that moves 
with so much velocity and so little concussion as the horse : this 
proceeds, in a great measure, from the number of these natural 
springs which he possesses in the knees, hocks, fetlocks, and 
feet. 
If the horse is worked too young or too much, or if in shoeing 
the foot is pared away more on the inside than the outside quarter, 
the weight of the animal descends more on the inside of the leg 
than nature designed, and inflammation of the ligaments is 
effected, by which bony matter is secreted, and the ligament 
loses its pliability and becomes hard and bony. Excrescences of 
the same will also increase the bulk and injure the action of the 
joint. 
If it is discovered in its earliest stage, it may generally be re- 
duced by that treatment which will increase the action of the 
absorbent system. With this intent, four quarts of blood may 
be taken to relieve the pain and inflammation, and one of the 
following bolusses may be given every morning : — 
Take of Venice turpentine 4 oz. 
Yellow resin ditto 
Squills, powdered £ oz. 
Oil of mint or aniseed ditto 
Mix and divide into twelve bolusses. 
A blister of the following should be rubbed over the part 
affected : — 
Take of Spanish flies powder £ oz. 
Corrosive sublimate £ dr. 
Spirits of turpentine 4 oz. 
Mix for use. 
The corrosive sublimate should be previously dissolved in a table- 
spoonful of spirits of wine, strong brandy, or arrack. 
VOL. xvi. 4 s 
