20 



HORSE— DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



rod, an opinion to which we most cordially 

 subscribe ; .and the same advice may be 

 given of all these affections of the air 

 passages. 



Roaring is not heard at rest. In the 

 majority it is only developed by exertion, 

 which quickens the breathing, and the 

 noise is increased in proportion as the 

 pace is accelerated, though in a few it is 

 audible as soon as put into the trot. 

 Knowing dealers, who wish to prevent 

 the noise from reaching the ears of an 

 experienced purchaser, when showing a 

 " Bull " of good action, start the horse 

 a considerable distance before putting 

 him to the gallop, and in returning slacken 

 the pace, so that the breathing becomes 

 tranquil before the horse reaches the ex- 

 aminer ; this is called " coming the long 

 trot." Many of these lesions are conse- 

 quences of inflamed lungs or diseased 

 alterations of the air passages, and most 

 of them are modifications of the same 

 disease. Sometimes they exist in so slight 

 a degree as to be discoverable only by 

 quick and long-continued exertion ; but, 

 when suspected, they should be tried by 

 a brushing gallop, though this is not al- 

 ways allowed. 



The only other simple and practicable 

 plan to get at the state of the breathing 

 is the common way of making the horse 

 cough, which, if gross and accompanied 

 by a short groan, is conclusive, and the 

 characteristic grunt, when alarmed, is not 

 to be misunderstood. But the cough is 

 not always marked, and, therefore, not 

 infallible. If, therefore, there is any cause 

 for doubt and suspicion, it is better to 

 call in a professional man, more especi- 

 ally as the slighter affections are apt sud- 

 denly to terminate in the greater, without 

 much warning, in a very short time. 



We now proceed to search for blem- 

 ishes and those indications of unsound- 

 ness, which are apparent to external ex- 

 amination, bearing in mind any symptoms 

 or suspicious appearances in his action, 

 that may lead us to suspect particular 

 parts, which should then be subjected to 

 the severest scrutiny. 



Any scars about the head should direct 

 attention to the knees, or they may lead 

 one to suspect there may have been an 

 attack of megrims or staggers. 



The neck should be searched to ascer- 

 tain that both jugular veins are perfect, 



which is discovered by pressing on the 

 lower part of the neck, with sufficient 

 force to stop the return of blood from the 

 head ; if the vein be perfect, it will fill 

 and swell from that point upward toward 

 the head. The loss of one of them, if 

 recent, predisposes the horse to staggers 

 or apoplexy, and he cannot be turned out 

 to grass or straw yard without risk. The 

 withers should be examined for bruises 

 from the saddle, as he is unserviceable as 

 long as heat or swelling continues. 



The slightest tendency to sore back 

 makes a horse unserviceable for many 

 months, and not unfrequently causes him 

 to rear and plunge on mounting. 



The shoulders should be examined for 

 tumors. If there are any marks of setons 

 or blisters about the points, it is probable 

 he has been treated for shoulder lame- 

 ness, and the attention of the examinant 

 will be directed to the foot, which, ninety- 

 nine times out of a hundred, is the seat 

 of lameness before. If that is found 

 round and strong, with the heels high, we 

 may suspect navicular disease. 



The chest and breast should also be 

 searched for marks of rowels, setons and 

 blisters, for the remains of them render 

 it probable that the horse has been under 

 treatment for inflamed lungs or chest af- 

 fections, and should in prudence direct the 

 purchaser to ascertain by a smart gallop 

 whether the mischief is of a permanent 

 nature, more especially if the horse is 

 narrow-chested. 



The knees should be examined with 

 the utmost care — first, that they correspond 

 in shape; and secondly, to ascertain whe- 

 ther the skin has been broken by falls ; 

 but it does not follow that a mark or scar 

 indicates a stumbler, and an accidental 

 blemish should not induce us at once to 

 condemn a well-formed animal. 



A broken knee may happen from a 

 variety of causes. The safest horse may 

 fall by an unavoidable accident, such as 

 a false step, from any thing giving way un- 

 der the foot, as a round stone, from fatigue 

 and over-exertion, or from a bad rider. 

 But a broken knee is a suspicious circum- 

 stance; it may be taken as an indication 

 of existing or recent unsoundness, and 

 the slightest mark, calls for the most care- 

 ful observation of every part of the horse, 

 of his make and action, and suggests the 

 narrowest scrutiny of the legs and feet ; 



