ON HOCK LAMENESS. 
48 ? 
sure, by the very accumulation of the fluid intended to facilitate 
motion ; thus, another effort is made by nature to relieve the 
parts, and where the ordinary means fail a new action is set up. 
The action is still farther limited, the pain is increased by still 
using the parts, and when it cannot be longer continued without 
injury to the whole animal frame, as a last resource we even find 
that anchylosis of the joint takes place. 
If Mr. Spooner only reflects on the position of the cavities he 
describes, he will see that the situation of them renders friction 
on those parts impossible : they cannot come in contact with 
each other; therefore if any friction were to occur it must be 
between the parts beyond the boundaries of those cavities, as the 
exertion must leave all the pressure to fall on the other portions 
of the articular surfaces, which, if continued, must have soon 
given rise to the same appearances, that is, supposing these ca- 
vities to have been the result of friction producing ulteration. 
When friction arises in cases of “ bog spavin,” it is commonly 
the effect of some injury done to the ligaments of the hock, or 
slight interruption of motion from exostosis, and generally inter- 
fering with the ligaments. But where, it will again be asked, is 
the seat of obscure hock lameness ? When the seat of lameness 
is obscure, I think it were better to inquire simply, where is the 
seat of the lameness? because, if the seat is obscure, why refer 
it to the hock? May the seat not be mistaken? But I have 
not time to enlarge, and shall therefore conclude by stating, that 
in and about the hock, besides lameness from friction, which 
sometimes occurs, or without it, which I have already noticed is 
always attended with obvious symptoms, spavin, in a variety of 
forms, that is, including all bony enlargements and all cases of 
anchylosis of the bones about the hock, may produce obscure 
lameness : but these, in all their varieties, are more likely to pro- 
duce obscure hock lameness before the deposit or ulceration takes 
place than afterwards ; and hence may often be found, on dissec- 
tion, the appearance of morbid action having been going on in 
one, two, or all of the bones, and on one, two, or all of the sur- 
faces of the bones of the hock, giving rise to various degrees, 
and, sometimes, peculiarities of lameness, which, had I not 
already extended further than I first intended, I would have de- 
scribed. 
