IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 79 



It is obviously impossible to explain, to an inex- 

 perienced man, all the symptoms of unsoundness. 

 I do not pretend to understand them myself, though 

 I have had some practice, and am not altogether 

 destitute of anatomical knowledge ; but to make them 

 intelligible by description only, would be hopeless to 

 the most skillful veterinary surgeon. There are, 

 however, some indications of latent disease, so well 

 marked, that any man who has once heard them 

 mentioned, will detect them ; and as my object is not 

 to write a scientific treatise, for which I am not qual- 

 ified, but to ofi"er a few such practical suggestions as 

 a man who has bought a score or two of horses is 

 well able to give, I will state, in popular language, 

 what these indications are. 



The foot of a horse is the first part to be ex- 

 amined. A well-made foot should, in its external 

 shape, be almost semi-circular, and inclining to the 

 conical form of a beer-tunnel. I must assume that 

 my reader is conversant with the names of the differ- 

 ent parts of the horse's foot ; if not, let him turn 

 into the next farrier's shop that he passes, and five 

 minutes will be advantageously spent in acquiring 

 them. 



