EXAMINATION OF THE WIND 385 



in the other joints of the extremities, and these will sometimes help in a 

 solution of the difficulty. 



It remains, however, that bone spavin, as an objective symptom, is an 

 abnormal growth of bone on the inner and inferior part of the joint, but 

 with this there is usually associated more or less disease of a destructive 

 nature going on between the bones, by which their articular surfaces become 

 disorganized. It follows from this that the malady is attended with lame- 

 ness, in which the hock-joint is but imperfectly flexed, the step is short, and 

 the weight of the body quickly displaced from the affected limb. When 

 this disease is suspected, some confirmation may be found in the fact that 

 the affected animal leaves the stable with a halting gait after rest, which 

 becomes much less pronounced or altogether disappears as he continues 

 a journey. 



The disease we have already referred to as existing between the bones 

 of the hock may be present without any perceptible enlargement on the 

 surface, but all the other symptoms described will be present. This con- 

 dition is termed " occult spavin " from the fact that there is no visible 

 enlargement to account for the lameness which, judged by the action, 

 is due to hock mischief. 



Whether the disease be occult or visible, spavin, it is hardly necessary 

 to say, constitutes an unsoundness of the worst form. 



EXAMINATION OF THE WIND 



Having so far disposed of the organs of locomotion, the examiner must 

 now direct his attention to the state of the breathing apparatus, for which 

 purpose the horse must be subjected to exertion. 



In carrying out this task the place selected should be as quiet as 

 possible, and the attention of the examiner should be fixed upon the 

 sounds given out during respiration. The position he takes up should 

 be to windward, so that the sound emitted may be conveyed towards 

 him. Wherever the examination is being conducted he should take up 

 a position alone, and not allow his attention to be diverted from its 

 purpose by any conversation with others. Noisy dogs in dealers' yards, 

 the shouting of men, and cracking of whips are not calculated to render 

 this part of the examination as satisfactory as it should be. 



The horse, having been mounted, should be made to trot sharply in 

 a circle for a few minutes, and then brought to the canter and finally 

 to a sharp gallop. 



In drawing a conclusion upon this test regard must be paid to the fact 

 that the breathing sounds emitted by different horses are liable to some 



