BLOOD-SPAVIN is a soft fluctuating tumour, ab surdly so called, simply because it occupies nearly the same situation as the true or bone spavin. In fact, it is not a disease at all: it is simply a dilatation of the vein as it. crosses the inner and inferior part of the hock, occasioned by the formation of a wind gall underneath it, just above the dilated part. It is not attended with the slightest inconvenience to the animal, and therefore it would be folly to inter fere with it.
WtNgcat,t,s are dropsical enlargements of little membranous bags called bursa mucosa'. They are incorrectly named; for in place of air, they contain a fluid very similar to water. They have various situations in the body: we most commonly find them in the hock and fetlock joints. They owe their ori gin to hard work: the repeated stretching and strain ing of the joints in violent exercises, such as hunt ing and racing, occasions these bags to be filled with fhid; under the pressure of which they gra dually yield until they acquire, in some instances, considerable magnitude. They seem to be produc tive of no pain; and consequently are not attended with lameness.
From the circumstance of their being, especially when very large, regarded as eyesores, we are often called on to disperse them. And with this view, we may use in succession, bandages, discutient lotions, and, finally, blisters: or the joint may, if required, be fired. The practices of puncturing the swellings, or introducing any sort of caustic into them, are to be reprobated as highly dangerous, not only to the limb, but even to the life of the animal, in conse quence of the pain and irritation which they are certain to create; and more particularly in regard to witidgalli of large size or long duration; for they very frequently communicate with the cavity of the joint with which they are connected.
Bog-sparins and Thorough-pins are nothing more than wind galls upon or through the hock; precisely of the same nature as, only differing in situation from, windgall upon the fetlock.
Conn is a solid, firm, ill-defined tumour, situated upon the posterior part of the hock, about three inches below, hut in a direct line with its point. It is most perceptible on a lateral view, being then recognised by a convexity or prominent deviation from the natural straightness of the posterior out line of the limb. Recent curbs, especially such as have made their appearance suddenly, are hot and tender to the feel, and are attended with considera ble lameness; but it is quite otherwise with old and callous curbs; all inflammation having left them, they produce no lameness or pain on press ure whatever; and the horse continues his work with as much apparent facility as if they did not exist. Curbs are induced by extraordinary or vio lent action, and are more likely to result in young horses, in which the hocks have not arrived at their perfect formation and strength. Horses that have sickle-hocks (by which is meant bowed hind legs) are more disposed to throw out curbs; whence such hocks have also got the epithet of curby.
In undertaking the cure of a curb, our first con sideration ought to be to abstract the inflammation from it; the second, to disperse the tumefaction. Drawing blood from the thigh-vein; hot fomenta ticns, and discutient lotions, aided by a little open ing medicine, will effect the former; but the latter can only be accomplished by a repetition of blis ters, or by a charge; and in either case the animal should be turned out for six or eight weeks. Should lameness relapse from an old curb (whirls every now and then it will do), after the inflammation is subdued, the part should be fired.