380 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



there is a fetid discharge, he may be glandered (16) 

 or have nasal gleet (22). To ascertain this, the 

 nostrils should be pinched together for about a 

 minute, to prevent him from breathing, and on re- 

 moving the hand he is sure to snort, which will blow 

 out any matter if he is diseased. The tongue should 

 also be particularly looked at. Examine the eye for 

 gutta-serena and blindness (36 and 37) ; see that the 

 withers are not fistulous (64) ; carefully scrutinise the 

 knees (88), because a horse that has had broken knees 

 must be suspected of stumbling ; what he has once 

 done, he may do again ; see that there is no appear- 

 ance of splent below the knee (93) ; nor grogginess 

 in the region of the fetlock (100) ; nor ringbone of the 

 pasterns (104) ; nor thorough-pin of the hock-joints 

 (109) ; attend particularly to the hocks, in case they 

 are capped (no); and notice that there is curb a 

 little way below these points ; examine narrowly the 

 inside of the hock-joint, in case bone-spavin or en- 

 largement of the bony substance exist there (115); 

 descend to the feet, and examine if there are symptoms 

 of grease (123); see that there does not exist sand- 

 crack in the horny substance of the hoof (135); nor 

 canker separating the horny substance from the 

 sensible and fleshy part of the foot (139). These are 

 a few of the external maladies which the purchaser 

 must particularly attend to, all or any of which 

 dealers will be at no loss to account for. Disbelieve 

 all their eloquent excuses ; err on the safe side by 

 rejecting the purchase. Sweeping as this condemna- 

 tion may be thought, it is unfortunately too true that 

 this class of men are not to be depended upon ; and 

 considering the risks which they themselves are 

 liable to, it is not to be wondered at. If the legs 

 exhibit any sign of having been bandaged, a well- 



