THE HOKSE. 75 



productive of lameness at slow work, the rapid and powerful action of 

 the hock in quicker motion will produce permanent, yet perhaps not 

 considerable lameneSvS, which can scarcely ever be with certainty re- 

 moved. 



Splint. — It depends entirely on the situation of the bony tumor on 

 the shank-bone, whether it is to be considered as unsoundness. If it is 

 not in the neighborhood of any joint, so as to interfere with its action, 

 and if it does not press upon any ligament or tendon, it may be no 

 cause of unsoundness, although it is often very unsightly. In many 

 cases, it may not lessen the capability and value of the animal. 



Stringlialt. — This singular and very unpleasant action of the hind-leg 

 is decidedly an unsoundness. It is an irregular communication of nerv- 

 ous energy to some muscle of the thigh, observable when the horse first 

 comes from the stable, and gradually ceasing on exercise. It has usually 

 been accompanied by a more than common degree of strength and en- 

 durance. It must, however, be traced to some morbid alteration of 

 structure or function ; and it rarely or never fails to deteriorate and 

 gradually wear out the animal. 



Thickening of the Back Sinews. — Sufficient attention is not always paid 

 to the fineness of the legs of the horse. If the flexor tendons have 

 been sprained, so as to produce considerable thickening of the cellular 

 substance in which their sheaths are enveloped, they will long after- 

 ward, or perhaps always, be liable to sprain, from causes by which they 

 would otherwise be scarcely affected. The continuance of any consid- 

 erable thickness around the sheaths of the tendons indicates previous 

 violent sprain. This very thickening will fetter the action of the ten- 

 dons, and, after much quick work, will occasionally renew the inflamma- 

 tion and the lameness; therefore such a horse cannot be sound. It re- 

 quires, however, a little discrimination to distinguish this from the gum- 

 miness or roundness of leg peculiar to some breeds. There should be an 

 evident difference between the injured leg and the other. 



Thoroughpin, except it is of great size, is rarely productive of lame- 

 ness, and therefore cannot be termed unsoundness; but as it is the con- 

 sequence of hard work, and now and then does produce lameness, the 

 hock should be most carefully examined, and there should be a special 

 warranty against it. 



Thrush. — There are various cases on record of actions on account of 

 thrush in horses, and the decisions have been much at variance, or 

 perfectly contradictory. Thrush has not been always considered by legal 

 men as unsoundness. We, however, decidedly so consider it ; as being 

 a disease interfering and likely to interfere with the usefulness of the 

 horse. Thrush is inflammation of the lower surface of the inner or 

 sensible frog — and the secretion or throwing out of pus — almost in- 

 variably accompanied by a slight degree of tenderness of the frog itself, 

 or of the heel a little above it, and, if neglected, leading to diminution 

 of the substance of the frog, and separation of the horn from parts 

 beneath and underrunning, and the production of fungus and canker, 

 and ultimately a diseased state of the foot, destructive of the present 

 and dangerous to the future usefulness of the horse. 



AVindgalls. — There are few horses perfectly free from windgalls, but 



