CHAPTER XLIV 



DISEASES OF THE LEGS 



^T^HE following suggestions as to the detection and 

 -■- treatment of lameness apply, in the main, to lame- 

 ness both in the legs and feet. (Diseases of the feet 

 are treated of in the succeeding chapter.) 



1. Remember that a lame horse nods on his sound 

 leg. It often happens that the wrong leg is treated for 

 lameness. In testing a horse for lameness, see him 

 backed out of his stall and then moved at a slow trot. 

 Horses quickly warm out of a slight lameness. 



2. You can usually find the seat even of obscure 

 lameness provided that you look for it as carefully 

 as if you were trying to discover the error in a column 

 of figures. Begin at the bottom of the foot. Take 

 nothing for granted. Pass no part until you are sure 

 it is sound. Examine every joint, ligament, and muscle 

 until you find the sore place. Handle the horse gently 

 and quietly. Do not be rough with him or frighten 

 him. Do not hurrry. 



3. Remember that if a horse is lame from any cause, 

 and whether in the leg or in the foot, the hoof on the 

 lame leg will soon begin to contract and will pinch his 

 foot just as a wooden shoe one size too small would 

 pinch your foot and make you lame if you wore it 

 day and night as the horse does his hoof. Therefore 

 treat the hoof, that is, make it soft and keep it soft, 



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