232 Veterinary Elements. 



the foot of that limb, usually if the forepart of the foot is 

 affected the heel is lowered, e. g., in Founder; if the back 

 part is affected as in coffin joint lameness (navicular dis- 

 ease) the heel is raised, while if due to bad nail punc- 

 ture or fracture, the foot may be lifted entirely from the 

 ground: frequent lifting from one forefoot to the other is 

 indicative of coffin joint trouble. 



If lameness behind is suspected, let the animal be 

 trotted away from you and watch for the limb on which 

 the animal dwells and on which he puts his weight, as 

 to which is raised the higher, whether a toe is dragged 

 or not; then turn to the right about and left about, notic- 

 ing whether any reluctance is shown to putting weight 

 on a limb. 



The spavin test may be given if hock lameness is sus- 

 pected, by flexing the hock tightly, which is performed 

 by lifting the limb up close to the body for a few min- 

 utes, the foot being let down and the animal trotted off 

 smartly, if the lameness is due to spavin, the lameness will 

 be more marked after giving the test, the horse sometimes 

 going off on the hop. After a drive or warming up of a 

 horse the lameness will often disappear, in such cases 

 the examination should be deferred until the horse has 

 cooled off, when the lameness will usually show very 

 plainly. Horses often drive out of the lameness when 

 warmed up, that is the lameness disappears, except when 

 lame from splints, sore shins, corns, founder or sprains. 

 Intermittent lameness, that is the animal goes lame one 

 time, sound another, is characteristic of rheumatism or 

 navicular trouble. 



