THE HORSE BUYING AND SELLING. 605 



COCKED ANKLE, like knee-sprung, is a mark of previous injury, 

 or ocular evidence of local weakness. It is known by the ankle- 

 joint being thrown forward like a knuckle, and for this reason 

 it is sometimes called knuckling. In the great majority of cases 

 it is only a symptom. The cause will be found in the feet gen- 

 erally, or in sprains of suspensory ligaments, or tendon passing 

 over the fetlock. 



SWEENY is a wasting of the muscles of the shoulder-blade. 

 It is usually caused by a bruise from a bad-fitting collar, or at 

 heavy loads, or plowing, or having the head pulled to one side 

 by wide checks or a jockey-stick. The farmers' colts are more 

 liable to it than any others, because of faulty collars, want of 

 care in having the young horse comfortable and well-arranged 

 in his harness, and in the wagon or plow. The head should 

 always be in a line with the spinal-column when plowing or pull- 

 ing. Any deviation from this for any length of time, overtaxes 

 the muscles and causes a weakness, manifested in a shrinking 

 of the same. Rest will usually restore the muscle. If allowed 

 to run on without rest or treatment, it becomes chronic, and ex- 

 tends to the leg and affects the heads of bones, and permanent 

 lameness results. Not all shoulder-lameness is sweeny. In fact, 

 sweeny is rather exceptional. 



UNNERVING. There is an operation performed for navicular 

 disease and ailments of the lower limbs, known as nervotomy, 

 or unnerving. Its purpose is to deaden sensibility to pain and 

 prevent limping, or it may be performed to give higher action 

 and a harder, heavy step. The buyer can easily discover 

 whether the operation has been performed if he will pass the 

 finger and thumb along the back sinew, and notice if the horse 

 catches up the foot sharply as the fingers press on two little 

 knobs or lumps. Now, if the little scars over these lumps be 

 pressed and the horse jerks up the leg suddenly, he may safely 

 conclude nervotomy has been performed. How long the horse 

 will work after this operation is all chance. He may work free 

 from pain for years. In some cases it is a humane act to un- 

 nerve, as it may save pain and enable the horse to be useful. 



Howden tells of a mare used in the coach-line between Car- 



