122 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



starting ; of course, therefore, a customer is never 

 introduced to a decided spavin ; but even in its inci- 

 pient state, it may be discovered by the enlargement 

 of the joint. If the purchaser places himself behind 

 the horse, (and in examining the horse behind, he 

 should always direct the helper to pick up the fore- 

 foot,) he will perceive that the bone of the diseased 

 hock does not incline gradually towards the lower 

 part of the limb, (as will be the case in the other 

 leg, if that is sound,) but projects abruptly. The 

 unpractised eye does not readily observe this : but 

 by drawing the hand down the inside of both hocks, 

 the abrupt projection will be felt. If there is any 

 tenderness on pressure, though this is not always 

 the case, the existence of disease may be yet more 

 certainly predicated ; and it is always a circumstance 

 to excite suspicion, even when no external enlarge- 

 ment can be seen or felt, if there is the appearance 

 of recent cutting on the inside of the fetlock joints, 

 or a dragging of the hind leg at the beginning of the 

 trot, or a projecting '' staring" appearance of the 

 hair at the part which is usually affected by spavin. 



Another disease that is also called a spavin, but 

 distinguished by the name of bog-spavin, is in its 



