SPAVIN. 
471 
nearly together as possible ; stand several yards in front of the 
animal, and looking through the front legs, compare the outline 
of each joint with that of the opposite one ; carefully note any 
irregularities of the lame joint, and compare them closely with 
the bones of the sound one. Then step to one side, nearly on 
a line with the shoulder of the sound side, and vice vei'sct, when 
any enlargement on the surface of the lame leg can readily be 
detected. Palpation for spavin between the scaphoid and the 
cuneiform bones of the joint and when the exostosis is not well 
marked, is of very little value. When the ostitis is confined to 
the articulating facets of the astragulus and os calcis, palpation 
by the trained and sensitive fingers of the surgeon will readily 
detect any existing inflammation in the parts. 
The question is often asked, how long a period of time will 
elapse from the beginning of spavin lameness until the exosto¬ 
sis will become visible. In some rare instances bnt a few 
weeks will intervene before the exostosis is well developed, 
though in my experience this is an exception and not the rule. 
In most of the cases coming under my observation the lame¬ 
ness may exist for several months, and I recall one case in par¬ 
ticular in which there was persistent lameness for three years 
before the exostosis made its appearance. 
In pronouncing a horse spavined in which there is no visible 
exostosis present, we are often met by the assertion of inter¬ 
ested parties, that if the horse has a spavin coming on the lame 
leg, he must certainly have one on the well leg, as both joints 
are exactly alike. I wish to state, more especially for the ben¬ 
efit of the young practitioner, that in horses with coarse hocks 
and in which there is an undue prominence of the borders of 
the scaphoid and cuneiform bones, and even if there is not the 
slightest lameness, he can in nearly every case safely make the 
statement that such a hock is already affected with spavin. It 
is rare in my experience to find an animal affected with spavins 
on both hocks to be lame in more than one joint at a time. 
Anchylosis of the bones of the hock without lameness is by no 
means, confined to adult animals ; I have seen well marked ex- 
