BLOOD SPAVIN
—is a preternatural and puffy enlargement on the inside of a horse's hock, proceeding from a distension of the vein crossing the internal junction of the inferior part of the thigh bone with the superior part of the shank; and whenever such injury is observed, it may rather be supposed to have originated in a blow, a kick, or more probably from a ligamentary twist or distortion, (by a short and sudden turn in the small stall of an ill constructed stable,) than by any continued exertion of speed, either on a journey or in the chase.
BLOWS
—inconsiderately given, in passion, to harmless, inoffending animals, are nineteen times out of twenty productive of repentance, when probably repentance comes too late. A horse sometimes, and most commonly from the inattention of the rider, steps almost unavoidably upon a flint or rolling-stone; and in the very exertion of recovering himself from nearly falling, he at that critical moment receives a severe and unexpected blow behind the ear from the stick of his philosophic, patient, humane rider, which brings him instantly to the ground, giving and receiving ample proof, that "the remedy was worse than the disease." No conjectures need be formed upon the loss of eyes annually sustained by blows from petulant masters, as well as the most rascally servants; injuries of this kind may be daily seen by observers with their eyes open in every part of the kingdom.
Blows will most assuredly sometimes happen from accident, though most of this description arise from folly, ignorance, or indiscretion; as for instance, the very common circumstances of carelessly giving a horse's head or eye a blow against the stall in turning, or the hip-bone very frequently against the post of the stable door, and this by the stupidity of those who seem to think a horse can turn within as small a space as themselves; or rather, perhaps, by those who seem unfortunately destined by Nature never to think at all. In general, the good or bad usage of servants to horses, or other animals under their care, may be conceived a very fair and unerring criterion of the depravity or integrity of their own hearts; and such should be emphatically told, that not only broken bones, but instantaneous loss of life, has frequently followed passionate blows, and cruel usage, by the law of retaliation, in the resentment of an animal capable of distinguishing between a fault committed, a reproof given, or any unjust injury sustained.
BONE SPAVIN
—is an ossified enlargement on the outside of, and rather below, the centre of the hock, originating in a cartilaginous protrusion from the seat of articulation becoming progressively callous, and lastly a substance equally firm with the bone itself. They do not invariably constitute lameness upon their first appearance, but it soon follows a course of hard or regular work. Blistering first, and firing afterwards, was the practice of farriers of the old school, which it is not known has undergone any change with veterinarians of the new.
BOLTING
.—When a fox, laying at earth, has been dug to, and, upon the approach of the spade, the terrier, or the person attempting to take him, makes a sudden spring, and goes off, he is then said to have bolted; when, of course, the chase is continued with the hounds. The term is also applicable to a rabbit from its burrow, or the badger from his earth.