LAMENESS AND DISEASES, ETC. 135 



location elsewhere, or otherwise appear in remote regions when 

 the foot itself is at fault. 



The nicest observation is sometimes demanded to identify 

 and locate the causes which produce certain derangements of 

 the locomotory apparatus, where a horse is said to " go sore," or 

 exhibits signs of tenderness. Simple or severe lameness, where 

 the condition of disabled functions is plainly manifested by the 

 animal refusing to use an injured leg, or to bear any or an equal 

 portion of its weight upon a disabled foot, may easily be de- 

 tected ; but mere tenderness or soreness is more difficult to lo- 

 cate. Serious results may at times follow from the obscurity 

 enveloping the early stages of many foot ailments, for in the 

 absence of early treatment, which a correct diagnosis would have 

 given, they may easily develop into more complicated maladies 

 or become transformed into chronic, incurable cases. Hence the 

 importance of early symptoms, how they betray themselves, and 

 what region or structure is affected. 



A little observation on the part of the driver will readily 

 detect any irregularity or change in the movement of his horse, 

 but just where lies the fault is not so easily determined. If the 

 horse is trotted slowly down hill and shows more evident signs 

 of lameness than when going on the level, it is an indication of 

 high or bruised heels ; again, if more distress is shown in going 

 up the grade, long toes are the probable cause. Soreness of the 

 shoulder muscles is also betrayed in a dragging movement of 

 the toes when going up hill. 



In case these preliminaries are not conclusive, lose no time 

 in turning the horse over to some competent farrier. The next 

 proceeding is naturally the removal of the horse's shoes to ex- 

 amine the soles and hoofs all around, for nail pricks or punc- 

 tured wounds and external injuries or bruises of any kind. 

 Having closely observed these parts and settled their connection 

 with any symptoms of lameness, proceed to examine for internal 

 soreness by using my foot testers (Fig. 195), to compress the 



