SURGICAL TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE HOCK JOINT 
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SURGICAL TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE HOCK JOINT. 
By Prof. W. L. Zuill, M.D., D.V.S., Philadelphia, Pa. 
A paper read before the Pennslyvania State Veterinary Medical Association. 
In presenting this subject for the consideration of this body 
of veterinarians representing the Profession in Pennsylvania, it 
will no doubt be in order to offer an apology for having the 
assurance to bring before you such a threadbare subject. It is 
not my object to offer you any new theories, but rather a new 
application of old ones, and the result obtained by a work-a-day 
veterinarian. 
The statistics which I give, have been compiled entirely from 
my own case book, from the first of January 1890 to the end of 
December 1893, and embraces only those operations done in 
private practice, excluding entirely my hospital work for those 
years. There are also statistics obtained from a few practicing 
veterinarians, with the results obtained by them, and which con¬ 
tain some very valuable information. 
Acute Spavin .—Before entering upon a detailed consideration 
of our subject, we will first hurriedly review the different forms 
of lameness in the tibio-tarsal articulation. The first group of 
lamenesses to which I shall call your attention, are those usually 
considered under the comprehensive term of Acute Spavin. 
Under this heading we have several distinct, and well defined 
lesions, all of which either entirely suspend the functions of the 
joint, or very greatly impair its usefulness. We may divide 
them into five distinct groups: Traumatisms, Lesions of the 
Tendinous Structures, Lesions of Synovial Membranes, Lesions 
of the Periosteum and Ligaments, and Lesions of the Bones. 
These lesions may exist separately, or two or more groups may 
coexist in the same articulation. The lameness which results 
from a Traumatism is unmistakable. It is of an intense charac¬ 
ter, the function of the limb is entirely suspended, locally there 
is an intense inflammatory swelling, hot and painful to the 
touch. In some instances this lesion wjjl make a good recovery 
under ordinary treatment, but the majority of cases will run into 
