WI1VD-GA.LLS. 
121 
appearance so frequently noticed about the legs ot horses 
which have been hard worked. (See plate 6, fig. 8, c.) 
There is a beautiful provision in Nature, in placing little 
bags between the tendons and other parts where they are 
exposed to pressure or friction. These sacs contain a 
mucous fluid of a similar kind to the synovia , or joint-oil 
which oozes from the bags and lubricates the tendons of 
the muscles. In consequence of violent action and strain¬ 
ing the tendons, these bags get injured, become inflamed, 
swollen, and hard, the tendons being generally inserted 
near the joints, where there is more pressure and motion, 
and consequently these bags are more liable to injury. 
They become inflamed, and during this state the horse is 
generally lame to a greater or less degree. However, unless 
these sacs attain a very large size, the horse cannot be 
reckoned unsound, as few are entirely free from wind-galls, 
—which appellation they acquired from the fancy that they 
contained wind.—It was an old practice to cut or probe 
them, so that the air might escape. This has, in many 
instances, produced violent inflammation, and has been the 
death of many fine horses. 
Remedies. —Unless wind-galls are large and interfere witf 
the actions of the leg, we would recommend that no treat¬ 
ment should be attempted. The first appliance to a large 
wind-gall should be a bandage or roller of flannel, and 
under it, immediately over the swollen parts, a soft pad 
should be introduced, and firmly bound down. The band¬ 
age should be wetted with the same kind of lotion recom¬ 
mended in sprain of the back sinews, page 101. This 
treatment in most instances will cause the wind-galls to 
disappear; but unfortunately they are liable to return, 
especially if the animal is hard worked. A blister is more 
hkelv to effect a cure, as it generally has the power of 
