by which the lameness is caused, through that membraneous skin being stretched beyond its usual size: both these modes are practised at the Royal Veterinary College. If, however, the splint be recently formed, after shaving the part affected, apply a little mercurial ointment night and morning, taking care to rub it well in; after this, a blister made of cantharides should be applied; and if these do not produce the effect desired, try a second and stronger one, and this may be probably attended with greater success. When lameness does not proceed from the splint, it were oftener a better practice to take no notice of it. Nothing could exceed the inhumanity of the old farriers, and indeed some of the present day, who cannot altogether rid themselves of some barbarous usages. The habit of boring the splint with a gimlet, bruising it with a hammer, applying to it the chisel and mallet, and thus cutting away the exostosis, are among their most cruel operations. But we must hope that all such errors are fast disappearing, and that a brighter day has risen, when, as Sir W. Blizzard expressed himself while presiding at the Veterinary College students' dinner, reputation and success must be founded on the union of science and humanity."

RINGBONE

Is more frequently found in the hinder than in the fore feet, and consists of an inflammation and enlargement of the astern bones, which form a ring round the coronet of the hoof, hence its name. The cartilages of the foot are sometimes affected with it. The reason it occurs in the hind feet, arises from the violent exertion some horses are compelled to make in

propelling themselves forward when they are attached to too great weights, thus the ligaments of the joints become injured, and not being looked to early an exostosis takes place.

Treatment.-Although horses afflicted with this disease are not always lame, nevertheless, it constitutes unsoundness. When lame, it is necessary to bleed in the foot, which decreases the inflammation; then apply a poultice made of bran and diluted vinegar; after which blister; and if this does not remove the lameness, as a last resource perform the operation of firing, which is all that can be done. For the animal has so much pressure on that part of the foot, that unless the cure is attempted in the early stages of the disease, it is generally irremediable; as are likewise exostoses of the navicular and coffin-bones, which often occur with the Ringbone, and sometimes alone, especially in old horses.

SPAVIN, OR BONE-SPAVIN,

Is another disease which has been pronounced as constituting unsoundness. Much has been said and written on the subject, and more remains to be satisfactorily explained ere a just distinction will be made between many exostoses to which the hock of the horse is subject. In "The Veterinarian," that excellent writer on the horse, Mr. Youatt, makes the following remarks on this point :

"Various diseases in the hock had been confounded under the name of spavin; but in his mind there was as much difference between the common spavin (the bony union between the metatarsals and the exostosis

frequently consequent on it), and ulceration of the synovial membrane of the cuneiform bones, as there was between the navicular joint disease and any other disorganisation of the internal structure of the foot. They might be connected, but were perfectly distinct. They might run into each other; one might be the consequence of the other; or each alone might pursue its course and produce permanent lameness. He could wish that the term spavin should be confined to that enlargement connected with the bony union of the metatarsals, which veterinary writers and horsemen had uniformly distinguished under that term; and that some other and appropriate name should be given to the inflammation and ulceration of the internal structure of the hock, and particularly of the cuneiform bones."

The Bone-Spavin is sometimes found among young horses, from the aptitude of employing them in draught at an early age; in such cases it is often curable, but in the older animals it is more difficult to get rid of.

Treatment.-This is another disease in which the farriers vied with each other in exercising their cruelty to the unhappy beast; the older treatment not being dissimilar to that employed in Splint. The most usual method of the present day is more simple, although not always efficient. Blistering is sometimes found to produce all the effects desired; but in obstinate cases we look in vain for a complete absorption of the bony deposit, although the removal of all inflammation of the ligaments can be brought about. The last thing to which we may have resort is firing. All hopes of a perfect cure, however, must greatly depend on the exostosis has been forming. At the Royal Ve

terinary College many cases have been successfully treated by means of the seton.

ANCHYLOSIS, OR STIFF JOINT,

May arise from two causes: First, from the continued violent exercise to which some horses are subjected, when the synovia or liquid which moistens the surface of the joint bones in their action against each other becomes encrusted or ossified; and, second! from wounds when the synovia escapes outwards; and this more frequently occurs in the knee and hock, either from accident or from the mismanagement of ignorant farriers; sometimes it appears in the coffin and pasteru joints.

Treatment. This in the first place must greatly depend upon the length of time the disease has been progressing; although in most instances the cure cannot be perfectly effective, yet something may be done to palliate the symptoms. When wounds appear in the joint, the cure must be made by closing them as speedily as possible. Apply a small quantity of butter of antimony to the opening of the wound, and slightly sear it with a hot iron, then bandage it to keep the air away; a fomentation of marsh mallows may be used to keep down the swelling or inflammation. The antimony may be used every other day until the wound has healed

CURBS,

Are enlargements on the back part of the hock, and

situated generally about four or five inches below the point of the hock. Any sudden action of the limbs will produce them, as racers have "thrown out curbs" after trials where their speed has been severely tested, as also have hunters in leaping and galloping over very heavy soil. Such horses as are cow-hocked are very subject to Curbs. This disease is especially a mark of unsoundness, for the horse requires a long period of rest to be thoroughly cured, and if too early worked or exercised the lameness is sure to return. Blistering is the usual mode resorted to, and in obstinate cases firing. When the inflammation and lameness is very great, bleeding from the subcutaneous vein, and gently physicing, has been found necessary.

THOROUGH-PIN

Is a swelling on the two opposite sides of the hockjoint, and is so called from its appearance of running from side to side through the joint. Unless very large, it seldom occasions lameness, although it is a sign that the animal has been subjected to undue work. These swellings being somewhat akin in their nature to Windgalls may be treated as under that head.

BOG AND BLOOD-SPAVIN,

Are allied together.

Blood-Spavin presenting "something like a varicosed enlargement of the superficial vein passing over the inside of the hock; which, however, appears by no means a spontaneous disease in the vessel, but is the consequence of the pressure of a distended bursal capsule underneath, which, it