140 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
absorption of the bony deposit, or at least a diminution of 
the ligamentary inflammation. When this fails, then re¬ 
course may be had to the cautery, and if burning proves 
ineffectual, no other known means is likely to succeed. 
BOG OR BLOOD-SPA YIN. 
Bog-spavin is a puffy elastic tumour on the inside of the 
hock, (plate 7, fig. 6, c.) It is in fact an enlarged and 
inflamed wind-gall of the part situated under the large 
subcutaneous vein which runs up the inside of the leg, and 
which being compressed by this enlargement, prevents the 
blood from flowing freely through it. This interruption of 
the circulation not only increases the size of the tumour, 
but also occasions a general torpor and stagnation of the 
blood, and, consequently, swelling of the limb in a slight 
degree, which presents an obstacle to its free action, and 
produces a very bad and incurable lameness. Even when 
lameness is removed, it has a strong tendency to return 
whenever the animal is subjected to severe labour; and 
therefore a horse having some time been afflicted with it 
must be considered as decidedly unsound; so that the 
safest plan is to get rid of a horse under those circum¬ 
stances ; and he may be worked in a cart or plough without 
the danger of a return of the malady. 
The seat of this disease is deep, and consequently there 
is much difficulty in operating upon it. The simplest, and 
probably the best application is uniform pressure, which 
may induce absorption of the fluid contained in the enlarged 
mucus-bag. But this joint being exposed to almost constant 
motion, there is much difficulty in keeping the pressure 
uniform, and if it should happen to press upon the vein, 
it will only increase the inflammation. 
Remedies. —This, like bone-spavin, admits but of a limited 
