self becoming sufficiently prominent to attract notice, is called Bog-Spavin."

ness.

This latter is far more dangerous than the former disease, as it is with great difficulty acted upon. Horses affected with either are very unfit for hard work, or such as requires speed, which usually brings a lameA bandage so contrived as to leave the point of the hock free, and having a considerable pressure on the other parts, will cause the absorption of the fluid; this, however, is not easily contrived, and modern practitioners have recourse to the blister, and if this does not prove efficient, firing may be resorted to, although Bog-Spavin will generally return despite all our efforts to remove it. The old method of passing a ligature both above and below that portion of the vein which was enlarged, is now discontinued as absurd and useless. Blood-Spavin is of much rarer occurrence than Bog-Spavin, the one being generally mistaken for the other.

WINDGALLS

Are consequent on violent exercise and hard work; they are situated just above the fetlock-joint, and consist of small swellings which yield to the pressure of the finger and immediately return on its removal. All horses are more or less subject to them, and they are found more frequently on the hind than the forelegs. If they are not large, a run at grass will often remove them; if, however, lameness should accrue, first apply a bandage or roller to each leg; these must be wound tightly round the enlargements to produce any effect, and wetted with a lotion of four parts of vinegar to one of spirits of wine. After this, if they

are not lessened, or should they return with exercise, blister, and, as a last resource, firing generally absorps the fluid, reduces the swellings, and prevents any reappearance of the disease.

LAMENESS IN THE STIFLE.

In cases of this kind, which are of rare occurrence, except from Spavin or a kick from another horse, fomentations, rest, and bleeding, will be found the most efficient remedies.

STRING-HALT, OR SPRING-HALT,

Is a peculiar and involuntary catching up of the hind leg higher than is necessary for the ordinary motion of the horse. No cure has ever been discovered for it, but this may arise from the precise cause and nature of the infirmity being involved in some obscurity fortunately, however, no injury accrues to the horse from it, although its appearance is ugly,

CAPPED HOCK,

Is not generally accompanied with lameness, but the appearance is very unsightly. It is usually found in horses given to kicking, hence all afflicted with capped hocks are regarded with a suspicious eye. It is sometimes occasioned by not allowing the animal a sufficient bed or litter. Blisters are the most effectual remedies, although when the swellings have become very large and callous they cannot be removed.

MALLENDERS AND SALLEnders.

Scurfy or scabby eruptions are sometimes found at the bend of the knee, and these are termed Mallenders; when the same appearances are seen inside the hock, they assume the name of Sallenders. They do not occasion lameness, but are very unsightly, and when left to themselves, will degenerate into an ichorous discharge not easily got rid of. They are easily cured by smearing with the following ointment :— 2 ounces.

Tar

1 ounce.

6 ounces.

And if this fail, a weak mercurial ointment may be used. Eeither of these diseases denote bad stablemanagement.

LAMENESS IN THE ROUND OR WHIRL-BOne,

Is generally known by the horse dragging the leg after him on the toe. Any injury to this bone, which constitutes the hip-joint, is treated with considerable difficulty from its situation; luckily, however, it is of rare occurrence. Foment with camphorated spirits of wine, and if the relief is not speedy, blister repeatedly. In some obstinate cases it may be necessary to fire the part.

LAMENESS IN THE COFFIN JOINT,

Sometimes occurs when the animal stands with the toe forward, keeping the pastern in a straight line with

the leg to ease the ligaments, the injury of which causes the lameness. Blisters applied to the coronet are the best means of cure, which should be speedy, as the use of the joint may soon be lost if the ligaments become ossified. This lameness is often confounded by ignorant persons with affections of the shoulder. When the sprain and heat of the coffin-joint is but slight, fomentation and bleeding has been sufficient. It is the ossification of the ligaments of this joint that degenerates into Ringbone.

BROKEN KNEES

Are always to be regarded with suspicion, and a careful scrutiny of the make and action of the horse is requisite when any blemish appears on the knee; not but that a bad rider or a trifling accident has been known to throw the most perfect horses, and consequently some judgment is required in discerning the qualities and motion of these animals. When a horse has fallen, if the skin only be affected, after washing the knee carefully with warm water, some have applied a blister to promote the growth of the hair around the blemish, and by contracting the wound, make the spot or scar less perceptible when healed. The use of ointments to produce hair on the scar is at once fallacious and absurd, although the use of gunpowder and lard is resorted to, which blackens the part, and thus partially conceals the blemish. If, however, the joint be affected, and the oily fluid flow from the wound, the first care must be to stop it, for which refer to Anchylosis, page 57. If, however, the orifice is very great, and the joint-oil continues to flow, the case is hopeless, and the wisest plan is to destroy the animal. This it

may be remarked is in extreme cases, which do but seldom happen. The old practice of injecting stimulant fluid into the wounds, is now abandoned as useless, and is one of the many cruelties the farriers of by-gone days used frequently to have recourse to.

STRAINS IN THE BACK-SINEWS

Are very serious, and require the greatest attention, and are generally a distention of the sheaths of the tendons, and more rarely of the tendons themselves. Violent exercise of all kinds, as galloping, leaping, &c., produces this complaint. As usual with every disease of a similar nature, the usual accompaniments are inflammation, swelling, and tenderness. The first attempt must be to subdue that inflammation by bleeding the thigh or plate-vein, according as the injury is situated before or behind. The use of warm fomentations are useful, and sometimes blood may be aptly drawn from the toe. Some cases require blistering, but never use any thing of that nature while heat and tenderness exist, as severe sprains when treated badly often require to be fired, which must always be done in straight lines. Rest is perfectly requisite in all cases of strain or sprain. In ordinary cases, after subduing the inflammation, a bandage bound round the part affected, and gradually increasing the pressure on each removal of it, will suffice. After firing for the severer sprains, six or eight months run at grass will conduce to a horse's benefit.

RUPTURE OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENTS,

Or Breaking down," as the farriers term it, is an