20 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



it is a slipshod proceeding, born of the certainty which 

 accompanies ignorance : fostered by idleness or indiffe- 

 rence ; and ending in either a lucky " fluke," a lawsuit, 

 or professional disgrace. It consists in handling the 

 most important points, and seeing the rest without the 

 aid of touch. 



The first method is the one I adopt; relying, as I 

 do, on the superiority of aittomatic movements over 

 movements under the direction of the will. The second 

 method involves going through a set of movements, 

 then repeating the same movements in reverse order. 

 This we should avoid, if we wish to perform automa- 

 tically. As examples of the superiority of automatic 

 movements over those directed by the will^ I would 

 advise you to go up or down a familiar flight of steps, 

 thinking at each step how to advance your foot for 

 the next ; or take an example without the trouble 

 of experiment, and look at those beautiful products 

 of automatic movements — the honeycomb or the 

 spider's web. Such being the case, then, after the 

 movements are perfected by repetition, your examina- 

 tion will be none the less perfect if your thoughts are 

 not immediately dwelling upon each successive step. 



Begin your examination by looking at the opening 

 of the nostril, making a speculum of the thumb 

 and index finger of the left hand, and observe the 

 Schneiderian membrane. The nostrils are liable to 

 accidents, such as being torn by projecting nails. I 

 saw one the other day so affected. A slough had 



