No. 7. DEPARTTVIENT OF AGRICULTURE. 649 



The following is an interesting instance of inherited unsoundness : 

 The black mare "Ebony Bell" made a few sensational appearances in 

 the show ring. She developed suddenly a severe lameness in the near 

 hind leg, at the Philadelphia Show. The condition was considered as 

 a light attack of azoturia. She recovered fully in a few minutes but 

 developed the same condition in her next show appearance, which 

 was at the Garden, the following fall. Again the veterinarians diag- 

 nosed azoturia, and horsemen called it "kidney shot." She was retired 

 from the show ring, but would develop the same peculiar lameness 

 whenever she was exercised. She was bred two years, and not driven 

 or ridden during the time. She had two foals which developed the 

 same character of lameness soon aften being broken. The writer sus- 

 pected stenosis of the external iliac artery in the dam, and by a rectal 

 examination verified the diagnosis. She was then destroyed. The 

 diagnosis of stenosis in the case of the foals was made by the history 

 alone. It would appear that the trouble in them was plainly due to 

 hereditary causes. 



Light bone, faulty attitude of the limbs, low back and weak coup- 

 ling, are faults of conformation. There can be no question but what 

 defects of this character can be transmitted. Breeders should not 

 use such animals. Stallions with these defects should be classed as 

 nondescript specimens, and those that do not possess true race char- 

 acteristics, are off type, etc., should be prevented by law from service 

 in the stud. 



Contracted feet may be the result of bad care or improper shoeing, 

 and, if so, would not be transmissable. Where it is known to be a 

 family characteristic or a congenital defect, it is looked upon as 

 transmissable. 



Cryptorchids and monerchids, are usually spoken of as ridgelings. 

 There is difference of opinion among breeders in reference to this con- 

 dition being transmitted. The operation of gelding them is not well 

 understood by the average castrator and fatalities are more common 

 than in the normal operation. For this reason breeders should con- 

 sider the advisability of using ridgelings. 



The true cause and pathology of stringhalt, shivers and crampiness 

 are not known. Stringhalt is sometimes seen with spavin or a defec- 

 tive hock and if so should be rejected. No cases were reported where 

 sires or dams with these defects were bred and no opinions were given 

 in reference to their transmissibility. 



It is hoped that the study of hereditary diseases will receive more 

 united study in the future. This question should interest breeders 

 and veterinarians. Our profession will be called upon in the future, 

 more than in the past to give opinions in reference to it. 



Stallion registration laws are beginning to be recognized as necs- 

 sary and wherever they have been intelligently enforced, there is a 

 marked improvement in the type and character of horses. 



A nondescript brood mare can do but little damage com]>ared to 

 the harm that such a stallion may cause in a breeding district. The 

 ideal horse should be free from defects of all kinds, but great injury 

 or injustice would result to the breeding industry if only such perfect 

 animals were allowed to breed for the reason that there are so few 

 perfect animals. To know how far one can safely go in overlooking 

 defects is a difficult question. If we had true statistics on all that 



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