(598 ON CURBS, OR AFFECTIONS RESEMBLING THEM. 
possibility of any recovery, except by decisive measures, and 
“ absolute and long-continued rest,” as stated in the Treatise on 
the Horse. 
I imagine that I have discovered the explanation of this mat- 
ter, which I wish to suggest for the scientific inquiry, at least, of 
the professors of the veterinary art. 
I have long since observed a very remarkable difference in the 
formation of the hocks of horses ; a difference merely local, and 
not, as at present I understand the matter, connected with other 
particular characters of form. In some hocks (to take the ex- 
tremes) the tendon stands out prominent, and clear of the bone, 
so as to be distinctly visible, and perceptible to the touch ; the 
head of the splint bone, I think it is, being small and receding. 
In others the head of the splint bone is large and prominent, and 
hiding on a side view the tendon altogether; in other instances 
the bone projects so much as to destroy the straight line, and in 
itself to give the appearance of curb. 
I have frequently mentioned this peculiarity of formation to 
veterinary surgeons, as somehow' connected with curb, without 
getting any light thrown on the subject ; but is it not possible 
that, in the latter kind of formation, the bone itself may be so 
large as to interfere with the action of the tendon ; and that by 
slight and continued friction, swelling, tenderness, and lameness 
similar to the symptoms of curb, may be produced? Such an af- 
fection not implying the severe damage to the sheath of the ten- 
don, or to the ligament said to belong to true curb, might yield 
to rest and milder remedies than those requisite for true curb. 
An intelligent veterinary surgeon in the country, whose name 
I would mention but that it might lead to my own, suggested 
the friction on the tendon as possibly producing the evil; but the 
ligament may be also in some way affected ; or a person possess- 
ing a more minute knowledge of the structure than I possess 
may hit on some other explanation. 
I am informed that some persons who let hunters for the season 
or job frequently manage what are called curbs by palliatives 
only, thereby producing such relief as to lead to very little loss 
of work. Young horses with curbs are also admitted into some 
cavalry regiments as sound : the latter fact may consist with true 
curbs, which are supposed to be generally curable ; the former 
looks more like a curby affection, short of true curb, and capable 
of the above explanation. 
As you inform me that the theory is new, it would be prema- 
ture for a person unversed in veterinary mysteries to pursue the 
inquiry much farther ; but I may suggest as a point of surgical 
investigation in the living subject, whether apparent curbs are 
