502 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Aftei the calling of the roll and the reading of the minutes of 
the previous meeting, Dr. Fred. Saunders read a paper on “ Exos¬ 
tosis of the Hock,’' in which lie discussed the Etiology, Paihology, 
Semiology and treatment. He cited cases in which spavin was 
evidently congenital, being manifested before the colts had 
attained the age of five years, and referred to the immunity from 
this disease that exists in horses with large development of the 
bones of the hock. He described the causes, effects, and termin¬ 
ation of spavin, to some extent, and then discussed the symptoms 
and diagnosis. Rest, he considered the most important factor in 
the treatment, but considered one or more applications of blisters 
as beneficial in cases of short duration. The actual cautery he 
believed in using only as a last resort or in aggravated cases.' As 
to the operation of tarsal tenotomy, lie said: “Icannot very well 
understand, how it will benefit a horse if the spavin is complicated 
with inflammation of the articulation. This operation is indicated 
only in mechanical lameness.” 
In the course of the discussion that ensued, Dr. C. C. Cattan- 
ach reported a case in which a horse that was very lame from a 
spavin received immediate relief from the operation of tarsal 
tenotomy. Dr. Crane considered this operation indicated only 
in cases of low spavin. lie doubted if rest alone would result in 
more than temporary benefit, and recommended the application 
of the actual cautery in all cases of hock joint lameness at the 
start. 
Dr. Field endorsed this view, stating that the only success he 
had ever had in the treatment of spavin was by the use of the 
firing iron. 
Dr. Coaxes said, “ Cold applications are indicated, in cases of 
periostitis, before blistering, and this treatment is at times suffi¬ 
cient. Tarsal tenotomy is useful in cases of extensive exostosis 
around the internal tendon of the flexor metatarsi muscle.” 
. I)r * ' MlcIiener recall ed cases of spavin of some years standing 
vv!th bone enlargements, in which blistering relieved the lame°- 
ness, but the tumors remained. 
I)r. Foote recommended placing horses at pasture during 
treatment for this disease, estimating rest in this manner as more 
valuable than rest in the stable. 
