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spavin if they are seen any where about the 

 houghs. It should be particularly observed 

 that the skin on the knees is very soft, that 

 there are no knots or indurations on the cap of 

 the knee, and that the hair does not stand 

 rough, for these are certain signs of his hav- 

 ing been down. 



Those who purchase horses should observe 

 that the knees are fiat upon the joint, and that 

 they feel soft. On passing the fingers close 

 down the joints, the animal should stand with 

 his feet forward and his knees quite straight, 

 so that in looking across the knees they do not 

 appear projecting and crippled, which is either 

 a natural defect in the formation of the knees,- 

 or the consequence of having been down^ 

 which contracts the skin, and causes a stiffness 

 in straightening them. It is easy to tell when 

 a horse has beeti badly, or even slightly cut, by 

 feeling the knees, as knots and indur-ations al- 

 ways rem.ain, and the hair stands very stiff^ 

 hard, and rough on those parts •, and when the 

 skin is once cut through, nothing can com- 

 pletely cure or conceal the blemish -, the hair 

 often becomes white, which is easily perceived 

 m all colours, except grey. If a grey horse 



