CURB. 
133 
ENLARGEMENT OF THE HOCK. 
The origin of this is a sprain or inflammation, affecting 
generally the hock-joint, produced principally from some 
sudden or violent concussion; checking the horse abruptly 
when going at a rapid pace, or from the animal being com¬ 
pelled to draw a greater weight than his strength will 
enable him to do comfortably. Considerable lameness, with 
tenderness of the parts, always accompany this; but these 
are not so difficult to remove as in more limited inflamma¬ 
tion. It will yield to rest and fomentation in general; 
but, if not, it will be necessary to have recourse to firing, 
which generally proves effectual. However, it too frequently 
happens that the enlargement of the whole joint remains. 
But this will not incapacitate him for work ; and if treated 
with ordinary caution, he may be worked during the re¬ 
mainder of his life without any increase of swelling or 
inflammation returning, although the parts around the hock- 
joint are altered in structure, and to a certain extent 
weakened. Although a horse may never afterwards exhibit 
lameness, still, where permanent swelling of the hock-joint 
exists, he is, in point of fact, regarded as unsound ; because, 
if he happen by necessity or accident to be subjected to 
extra hard work for a day or two, he is almost certain to 
become lame, and that too for life. Still, however, many 
a good and useful horse has enlargement of the hock. 
CURB. 
A curb is situated some inches below the point of the 
hock, (see plate 7, fig. 3, a , and fig. 8, e,) and is an enlarge¬ 
ment of the ligamentary bands of the part. When the 
limb is viewed from the side, a gradual puffing out of this 
part will be ibservable ; and if it is at all large or inflamed, 
