1^4 Journal of Agriculture. [8 March, 1907. 



with bone spavin and stringhalt, may be observed, as also the quivering of 

 tlie tail of a " shiverer." The double flank heave of a broken-winded 

 horse may be looked for at this stage. 



After such a casual examination, the horse should be brought out with 

 the bare halter on and straightway trotted at a gentle jog trot for the detec- 

 tion of lameness, which is in most cases more pronounced immediately after 

 rest. The method of examination foT detection of Lameness is to be fully 

 dealt with further on, and it will suffice here to say on this subject that the 

 horse should be trotted as many times as desired to and from the examiner, 

 who should stand fairlv in front or behind accordino- as the horse is ap- 

 proaching or going away from him. Particular notice should be taken 

 when the horse is turning, as then any "halting" which has previously 

 escaped notice may be obser\ed. 



Manual Examination. 



The jogging having been completed, the examiner may proceed to a de- 

 t;;iled and manual examination of the horse, and it may be well here to 

 observe that, in the carr\ing out of this, there is a ricdit way and a wrong 

 wav — the one methodical and stylish, and the other slipshod and slovenlv. 

 Except the examination is gone about with some method the examiner is 

 apt to become confused and overlook various points. Apart from being 

 m.ore stvlish and horsemanlike, the observance of method saves time by 

 avoiding numerous useless turns of the bodv and re])eated handlings. When 

 a particular method of examination is adopted, it should always be adhered 

 to, and the examiner should always have in his mind the unsoundness 

 which mav exist in the part being handled, and should not allow his atten- 

 tion to be distracted by the casual observation of anvthing imusual at any 

 other part, or bv the conduct or remarks of bystanders which often have 

 a sinister object. In this wav the likelihood of failing to note an unsound- 

 ness is reduced to a minimum. 



One of the best methods of manual examination, whereby the work can 

 be expeditiouslv done without making any unnecessarv turns or movements 

 of the bodv, and in which the attitude of the examiner and his use of 

 hands and arms is easy and natural, is that taught l)v the late Principal 

 Williams, of the New Veterinary College, Edinburgh, whose smartness and 

 neatness in " going round a horse ".w^as the admiration of successive classes 

 of students, and a fitting achievement to emulate. 1 purpose to represent 

 this method by indicating the action of the examiner and the object of such 

 action in juxtaposed columns. In this way the co- relation of the action and 

 object will be more clearlv grasped, and with viva voce repetition of these 

 during repeated practice on a few quiet horses the desired " finish " and 

 style will soon be acquired. Smoothness and (juietness of motion are 

 essential throughout the examination ; jerky or sudden movements, or any 

 action likely to upset, excite or bustle the horse should be avoided. 



Action. Object. 



Walk slowly round the horse from To get an imjiression or mind picture 



near to off side at a distance of 3 or 4 of the horse's make and shape, and con- 

 yards, with eyes directed successively sequently to opine likely unsoundness ; 

 to each part of the animal. and to observe any weakness of confor- 



mation, exaggerated deformity, or ob- 

 vious unsoundness, such as wasted shoul- 

 ders, broken knees, bowed tendons, 

 dropped hip, curb and the like. 



