340 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
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above all other causes, they are the result of hereditary transmis¬ 
sion. This fact I have so often proved in individual cases for 
my own satisfaction, that many years ago I became satisfied that 
spavin and ringbone were chiefly the result of breeding from par¬ 
ents which were the subject of these common ailments. 
Here, again, I repeat, on no account breed from diseased ani¬ 
mals. It’s worse than folly. Cure, there is none; the many as¬ 
sertions of pretending quacks to the contrary notwithstanding; 
yet there is an alleviation for it The active inflammation and lame¬ 
ness may be permanently stopped, and further enlargement of the 
bone prevented by proper remedies. My best remedy is the actual 
cautery —i e., hot iron. Yet there are many appliances for spavin - r 
cut off the hair close; rub in acetate of cantharides for4 dressings 
during the day (one day), then apply strong iodine ointment for 
2 or 8 dressings, or use biniodide of mercury, carefully rubbed in 
for 8 or 4 days, after which be particular to keep constantly covered 
with hog’s lard until the hair grows. But I repeat, the actual cau¬ 
tery in the hands of an expert, is the true remedy ; but none 
other should attempt to fire a horse. Next is Curb. This is 
caused generally by strain, but here again are we reminded in for¬ 
cible language of nature’s determination, or persistency, to perpet¬ 
uate disease. 
No one doubts the fact that there are curby-hocked horses— 
lots of them—liable at any time to throw out a curb. Here again 
is proof that “like begets like.” The cure is rest, cooling appli¬ 
cations for a few days, then iodine ointment for five or six dress¬ 
ings, say two a day. Here let me remark, that all animals thus 
treated must have rest —absolute rest. If you can’t rest your horses, 
let them alone. I would much like to speak about the foot of 
the horse, had I time, but I have not. 
Next is the Cow —abortion. This serious trouble has not yet 
made much havoc among our dairymen and stock raisers, but it 
is on the increase, and our business ought to be to prevent its 
spread by every means in our power. In many places in the east, 
as most of you know, abortion is the scourge and almost ruin of 
whole neighborhoods. So much so, that many have wholly, or 
partially gone out of the dairy business. How is this? Why, 
until lately, say two or three years, they have gone on breeding 
