HOW TO BUY AXD SELL. 43 



KHEUMATISM. 



Eheumatism can be discovered only when the horse is 

 lame^ and, consequently, unsound; but shoukl you be 

 able to prove that the horse was afflicted with rheuma- 

 tism within a reasonable time of purchase, and that he 

 was subject to that disease before you purchased him, — 

 even though he was going sound at the time of purchase, 

 — if he was warranted, lie is returnable. This is a dis- 

 ease generally brought on horses by carelessness and the 

 supposition that they are never afflicted by it. Horses 

 should not be exposed to draughts, particularly in the 

 stable, the flooring of which, more especially the straw, 

 should be dry for them to lie upon. As horses are ex- 

 posed to damp and cold out of doors, people imagine it 

 matters not what condition the stable may be in, think- 

 ing only that, if foul, it may spoil their coats. Out of 

 doors and at liberty horses are not exposed to draughts; 

 whenever they can they will get out of them ; and when 

 unpleasantly cold, will move about and warm themselves. 

 This they have not room to do in the stable. Do they 

 ever lie down in the wet out of doors? They choose the 

 driest spot they can find; and when cold, they will either 

 roll and get an extra layer of dirt as a covering, or other- 

 wise exercise themselves. 



For this disease it is usual to treat in the vicinity of 

 the round bone. Therefore, when you see marks of blis- 

 tering, setons, or firing on this part, even though the 

 horse at the time of examination goes free from lameness, 

 you have reason to apprehend occasional inconvenience 

 from the temporary lameness occasioned by this com- 

 plaint; and, while subject to the return at intervals, or 

 where it is a determined complaint of the horse, the ani- 

 mal is Unsound. 



Where the cure lias been effected some time and no re- 

 lapse had occurred, as it is clear that the malady has not 



