744 
DISEASES OF THE HOCK. 
spavin lameness, and occurs only during the development of curb. Curb, 
when slowly developed, may not interfere with movement, but when caused 
by violent injury, and accompanied by sprain or rupture of the calcano- 
cuboid ligament, or of the reinforcing ligament of the flexor pedis per- 
forans, is often accompanied by sudden and severe lameness. Pain is 
shown when weight is thrown on the limb and the fetlock-joint is flexed. 
In such cases pain and increased warmth may be detected on pressure 
over the affected spot. These symptoms, like the lameness, generally 
disappear in two to four weeks, but the swelling persists. Young horses 
which work hard are liable to suffer from relapses. 
Prognosis. The gravity of curb varies greatly. In general, and par¬ 
ticularly in old working-horses, it is simply a blemish, but animals exhibit¬ 
ing it should not be used for breeding, especially if the formation of the 
hock-joint be defective. In young animals, and in cases accompanied by 
chronic or intermittent lameness, prognosis depends partly on the extent 
to which the animal s usefulness is affected, partly on the formation of 
the hock-joint and the work to be done. Animals with weak “ tied-in ” 
hock-joints, if put to severe work, often suffer repeatedly, and become 
perfectly useless. The above is true in a still higher measure of bony 
curb, appearing as a complication of spavin. 
The treatment varies with the nature of the condition. In acute 
inflammation, antiphlogistic measures, the use of cold poultices, &c., with 
lesolvent ointments and massage, are indicated. Cantharides blisters or 
the actual cautery are useful later. But it must be borne in mind that 
such applications are only of use in lameness consecpient on acute pro¬ 
cesses. They have little effect in removing well-marked swellings, and 
can never completely cure old curbs. The animals must be rested as long 
as they show lameness. Bony curb is treated like spavin. 
VIII.—CAPPED HOCK. 
Like curb, the term “ capped hock ” is collective, and includes all 
swellings on the point of the os calcis, whatever their cause. Below 
the skin covering the tuber calcanei in the horse is usually to be found a 
subcutaneous bursa, lying on the upper or posterior surface of the tendon 
of the flexor pedis perforatus ; under this, again, is a true bursa for the 
tendon, which glides over the cartilaginous cap of the tuber calcanei 
(fig. 278, e). The condition known as ‘ £ capped hock” may have its 
origin in any of these structures. It may, therefore, consist_ 
(1) inflammation oi chiomc thickening m the cutis or subcutis j 
inflammation in the lower portion of the thigh is sometimes followed by 
swelling, due to gravitation of extravasated fluid (false capped hock). 
(2) Of hydrops of the bursa subcutanea; this is one of the commonest 
causes of capped hock. 
