p A i^T r 



LAMENESS. 



This is not a special disease, but a sign of some disease or in- 

 jury. The cause may be palpable, such as a kick or violent blow, 

 but it is often very difficult to know the origin or even the exact 

 site where it lies. If remedies, however good, be applied for the 

 wrong disease or to the wrong place, they evidently can be of no 

 benefit and may cause harm ; so, if possible, professional assis- 

 tance should be obtained. But frequently in India it is not avail, 

 able, and then a careful consideration of the following remarks 

 may enable the reader to identify the actual disease or injury. 



The shoe of a lame limb should always be removed, as it may 

 conceal some injury besides any other ostensible cause of lame- 

 ness. This must be done carefully, one nail at a time, and if any 

 of them comes out wet, it shows something is wrong in that 

 spot. 



As symptoms are in some cases more marked when an animal 

 is at rest than when in motion, he should first be scrutinized in 

 the stable ; the best time being the early morning after a long 

 night's rest. 



POINTING one foot persistently in advance of the corre- 

 sponding one whilst at rest denotes acute pain in the leg pointed. 

 If pointing be from fatigue or habit, and not from pain, it is^ 

 always of two limbs simultaneously; for exgRnple, if the right 

 fore-ieg is pointed, the left hind one will also be stuck forward. 

 Most animals rest themselves, while standing still, in this man- 

 ner. If both fore-feet are bad, the hind legs will be brought 

 well forward under the body, whilst the fore-feet are frequently 

 shifted with simultaneous stretching of the neck and throw- 

 ing up of the head from the pain caused. If both hind legs be 

 affected, the horse is stiff as well as lame, and at rest he stands 

 with the fore -feet below his belly, body pushed forward, and 

 head hanging down to throw weight away from the legs that 

 are in pain ; he also shifts the hind legs alternately and breathes 

 heavily from the pain. His efforts to stretch his legs when he 

 wishes to urinate cause such agony as sometimes to render the 

 attempt futile. 



