DETECTION OF THE SEAT AND CAUSE OF LAMENESS. 329 



655. If not lame in the foot, and yet more lame on hard than on soft 

 ground, an Exostosis may be suspected. 



If, however, a thorough examination should show that the feet are 

 sound, the symptom, namely, increased lameness on hard ground, will 

 lead us to conclude that the cause may be found in some Exostosis, such 

 as a spavin, splint, ringbone, or sore shins. The peculiarities connected 

 with such lameness and the best means of detecting the seat in each 

 particular case, have been detailed in Chapters Nos. 38 on Spavin, 39 on 

 Splint, and 40 on Sore Shins. 



656. Of lameness in the fore-hand, when the horse is more affected on 

 soft than on hard ground. 



If, however, the lameness being in the fore-hand, the horse is more 

 lame 011 soft than on hard ground, it is probable that the effect is due to 

 sprain of some muscle, ligament, or tendon. 



These causes are so frequent and so important, that the author deems 

 it necessary to devote to their consideration a separate Chapter (No. 44 

 on Sprains of the Fore Leg). 



657. Lameness in the Hind Quarters. 



We have hitherto supposed the seat of lameness to be in the fore-hand. 

 We must now suppose that, by the rules laid down in paragraph 652, we 

 have ascertained its seat to be in the Hind Quarters. 



With some modifications, the general rules given above for detecting 

 the particular seat of the lameness apply to hind, as well as to fore, 

 quarters. 



The level movement or otherwise of the hips is our first and chief 

 guide. If the horse is lame in the hock or below it (and in the great 

 majority of cases the seat of lameness is in the hock), the hip, on the side 

 in which the disease exists, is usually carried somewhat higher than the 

 sound one. 



Before trotting the animal, note should be taken of the conformation 

 of the hind quarters. For this purpose the horse ought to be made to 

 stand so as to bear his weight equally on both hind legs. The relative 

 equality of the height Of the hips and the development of the muscles on 

 both sides will then be well seen. If the horse is not made to stand well 

 and correctly balanced on his hind legs, an erroneous opinion may easily 

 be arrived at. It not unfrequently happens, that a portion of the pro- 

 jecting part of the bone of the hip has been knocked off. It is important 

 that this accident, if it has occurred, should be noticed before the horse 

 is trotted down; because otherwise the fact of one hip being carried 

 higher than the other would lead the unwary to suspect lameness in the 

 opposite leg, or perhaps to think that the muscles had wasted away from 

 previous disease. 



If, on the other hand, the horse should happen to be lame from an 

 injury or sprain above the hock, the hip on the lame side will generally 

 droop somewhat in action. A further peculiarity will be noticed in the 



