ON THE DISEASES OF THE HOCK. 
bi i 
on the upper surface of the astragalus. The corresponding tibia 
I do not possess, and the only history I could obtain of the hock, 
was, that its late owner was “ as lame as a cat.” 
No. 2 is a specimen of diseased hock, shewing also exostosis 
and anchylosis of several of the tarsal bones, with a rough bony 
deposit in the groove of the tibial portion-of the astragalus, 
and ulceration on the ridge of the tarsal extremity of the tibia. 
This horse was rendered useless by the severity of his lameness, 
and destroyed in consequence of his inutilitv. 
- - _ t/ f 1 , 
No. 3 shews a circumscribed bony enlargement on the cunei¬ 
form bones, situated in the usual seat of spavin, and occupying only 
a small extent of surface. Besides this, there was some degree of 
ulceration in the groove of the astragalus, and still more on the 
corresponding portion of the tibia, the projecting ridge of which, 
for the space of more than a quarter of an inch, seemed quite 
“ worn down.” The horse was about six years old, and came 
under my notice a month or six weeks only prior to his deatln 
He was purchased of a dealer, and the enlargement was pointed 
out; but the horse appearing free from lameness, and the dealer 
warranting “ his hock to stand sound,” he was bought. The 
horse was put to fast work, and though he did not altogether go 
lame, he appeared gradually to shew a degree of stillness, and 
was continually resting the off hind leg. He was found one 
morning dead in the stable, having strangled himself, by getting* 
his head entangled under the manger. It struck me that the 
horse had been previously lame, and had, by resting, blistering, 
&c., been restored to a state of apparent soundness ; but 1 should 
imagine that his lameness would have returned in a short time, 
and would ultimately have proved incurable. 
No. 4 is a hock which I lately procured, having belonged to 
a mare that died of apoplexy, and whose case is related in the 
last number of The Veterinarian. As I am acquainted with the 
history of her lameness, it would perhaps be as w ell for me here 
to relate it. The mare had been used in post w ork, and lirst ap¬ 
peared to be lame in the off hind leg, some time in October last 
year. Her lameness came on gradually, w as greatest on moving* 
out of the stable first, and soon disappeared after exercise. No 
enlargement was any where perceived; but on minute examina¬ 
tion, I discovered sufficient heat about the tarsus, to persuade the 
attendants that the lameness might proceed from the hock ; and 
to strengthen me in my previous belief that it actually did so, 
the hock was kept wet until the inflammation ceased to be 
perceptible; and a seton about eight inches in length was then 
passed under the integuments, and counter-irritation kept up by 
this means for about three weeks. In a w eek after the removal 
of the seton, the mare appeared considerably better, if not en 
VOL. III. 4 Y 
