IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 97 



but occasionally drops behind, as if from debility. 

 I do not consider wind-galls to be any serious objec- 

 tion to a draught horse. 



A strain of the back sinews, (which I may ex- 

 plain to the unscientific reader, are the tendons of 

 those muscles that are attached to the arm of the 

 leg, between the knee and the shoulder,) is an 

 injury of common occurrence : the outward symp- 

 tom of it is enlargement and tenderness. It is 

 not difficult to discover this, even when the eye 

 is unable to perceive any swelling. We cannot 

 assist our scrutiny in this case by actual measure- 

 ment, because the flat shape of the leg, and the 

 deep position of the injured part, may allow of 

 considerable enlargement, without any material 

 difference in the circumference of the healthy and 

 unsound limb ; but the feel of the tendon is too 

 peculiar to leave room for doubt. In the sound 

 limb, the tendon is well defined, perfectly distinct, 

 and has a tense, hard character, that resembles 

 the touch of a cord tightly strung. In the un- 

 sound leg, instead of the distinct perception of a 

 hard, ropy substance, the tendon is traced by the 

 finger with difficulty ; it is not easy to distinguish 

 9* 



