250 GREAT CARE NECESSARY. 



also be able to discover the formation of splints, as 

 will as whether any injury have been clone to the 

 sheath of the tendons, ligaments, &c. 



The pasterns and feet must next go through a care- 

 ful examination, noting the state of the coronets, the 

 colour and angles of the hoof, as well as its size and 

 general formation ; and if any difference in the angle 

 or size should seem to exist between the two feet, it 

 must be ascertained by a still more careful study and 

 comparison that it does not arise from rasping, cutting, 

 &c, in shoeing. 



The action of the heart and respiration must then 

 be attentively examined by putting the ear to the chest; 

 Avhich examination will greatly facilitate the detection 

 of disease in the subsequent trial of these organs by 

 rapid motion. 



The spine will now require the strictest scrutiny ; 

 since the existence of a ' ricked back ' is very difficult 

 to ascertain by superficial investigation. 



This done, the hind limbs will require a very rigid 

 examination. The thighs must not only be cautiously 

 examined as to the existence of strains, &c, but the 

 inside of the thighs must be thoroughly observed as to 

 the existence of pimples or farcy buds, which, even if 

 scarcely perceptible, may be ascertained by unnatural 

 tenderness and slight tumefaction. 



The patella and stifle joints, with their muscular and 

 ligamentous attachments, must next be. examined ; for 

 this is the seat of a very troublesome lameness, es- 

 pecially amongst steeplechase horses, from extension of 



