The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-18
Bone SPAWN.

Most everybody knows that this Is a
bony eXcrescence or hard swelling on
the inside of u horses hook. Although
we have, through these columns, often
stated that, generally, it is an incurable
ailment, so far at least as the removal
of the bony deposit is concerned, to-
gether with more or less stiffness of the
joint, still the request comes for not
only a sure and permanent cure, but
also for the entire removal of the I'M
slightly and characteristic bony pro-
truberance.
SPAWN assumes various aspects and
possesses various virulence, from slight
and easily -'curable" damage to an. in
veterate blemish or incurable disease.
1t is induced by kicks, bruises, leaping,
overstraining, and rapid galloping, but
especially by the overworking of a young
horse before its limbs have sufficient
strength, and by faulty and uneven shoe
ing. A SPAWN from a kick or blow is
usually a mere brgise on the bone,
or on the membrane which covers
it, and can easily be cured; a
SPAWN on the lowest part of the
hook is of less consequence than one
between the small bones of the hook
joint; a SPAWN near the edge of the
limb is not SO bad, because it does not
SO much affect the bending of the hook,
as one towards the middle; and SPAWN
of any kind in colt or young horse is
less inveterate than SPAWN of the same
kind in fully matured horse, and very
much less SO than one in a decidedly
old horse.
In the earlieIastages of spawn, de-
gree of lameness is always induced
and this is sometimes so great as to rem
der the animal apparently all but worth
less; but in the maturer stages, when
the membrane of the bone becomes ac-
commodated to the eXcrescence, the
lameness decreases and often totally
disappears. A spawned horse is usually
quite able for slow work, and may not
only take part in most Of the labor on
the farm, but derive benefit from the
laborious but steady exercise of his
limbs. A farmer will generally pro-
cure such an animal at comparatively
low price and may find him an excel
lent bargain. The slow, regular and
heavy action of the limbs in plow-draft
raises the absorbent system to vigorous
action and incites it to withdraw por-
ton OF the bony matter which forms the
eXcrescence, yet without either renew
ing the local irritation or inflammation;
and therefore achieves an important
alienation of the disorder.
The proper medical application for
any ordinary bone SPAWN is a blister.
The hair covering the affected part
should be cut close to the skin; blister
ing ointment ought, in the morning, to
be spread thicIly over the part, and in
the evening coat of hogs lard may
be spread over this, and be repeated
once daily, until the scab which forms
after the blistering has peeled off.
which generally occurs within ten to
twelve days. A second application may
then be made, and this is usually more
effective than the first, and, in the case
of colts or young horses, often completes
the cure. In very bad cases so many
as six or seven successive applications
OF blister may be necessary, and they
are not at all likely to aggravate dis
ease or occasion any other blemish, but
on the other hand, will generally effect
a cure; yet, after the second time they
must not be repeated with greater ra-
pidity than at intervals of fourteen or
even twenty-one days. A spawn which
involves the joint surfaces of the small
bones, and any ordinary SPAWN in an old
animal may be regarded as incura-
BILE. Blistering, at all events, will not
subdue such cases, and either the use of
hot iron or some more powerful agent
than ordinary Spanish fly blister is the
only probable remedy, but ought not to
be employed without full consideration
OF risks, and may not unlikely destroy
the lDub or at least greatly aggravate the
exlstiag lameness. The safest method
IN even the worst cases is to give full
trial to blistering, and when this fails
TO rest contented with whatever degree
OF amelioration can be obtained from
the slow and steady working of the ami
mal.-Prairie Farmer