1 4 Lament 



FOOT LAMENESS is most easily recognized when the ani- 

 mal is at rest. The pastern of the leg affected is generally more 

 upright than the other to avoid throwing weight on it. The 

 hoof always feels hot when there is pain inside it, if the palm of 

 the hand be placed flat on it. 



SHOULDER LAMENESS is shown by the forearm being 

 inclined backwards, knee bent, with the toe only resting 

 on the ground. In this case a high-heeled shoe gives 

 relief. Shoulder lameness occasionally is caused by liver 

 disease, but then it occurs on the right side only, and 

 is accompanied by loss of appetite and yellowness of 

 the gums and nostrils. In cases of shoulder lameness, 

 the horse, if moved in his stall, tries to avoid elevating the 

 shoulder, and therefore in turning swings the leg round in a con- 

 spicuous manner. Pressure on the muscles between the fore-leg 

 affected and the chest makes the animal wince. 



ELBOW LAMENESS is easily distinguished from shoulder 

 lameness by the horse being able to bring his shoulder well 

 forward, though, whilst at rest, he keeps the injured leg pen- 

 -tlulous with the toe dragging and probably behind the corre- 

 sponding leg. 



Having failed to detect the seat of lameness whilst the animal 

 is in the stable, the next plan is try to do so in motion. For this 

 the slow trot is the best pace, and it should be commenced imme- 

 diately on leaving the stable, as walking may cause the symptoms 

 to (temporarily) disappear. The snaffie bridle only to be used, 

 the reins over the horse's head being held about two feet from the 

 horse's mouth by a man running alongside. If the reins beheld 

 nearer, the nodding of the head whilst trotting might be imper- 

 ceptible ; and it longer, the man might be kicked by the horse. 



Everyone knows that a horse lame in a fore-leg bobs his head 

 up and down at a walk and trot ; but it is not equally well known 

 that he does this as the sound foot touches the ground to throw 

 on it the weight of the neck and head, which is considerable. 



Don't form an opinion until the horse has been trotted towards 

 as well as from you, and turned sharply both to the right and 

 left, as in cases of what is called cross lameness, a mistake would 

 probably be made. For instance, a horse lame in the off fore-leg 

 trotted from you would appear to drop his near hind quarter as 

 if lame in that leg, though, on his trotting towards you, it would 

 be evident that the hind quarter did not really drop, but only 

 appeared to do so from the head bobbing up and down. 



In obscure cases, exercise smartly for half an hour, then put 

 the horse in the stall till quite cool, after which the slow trotting 

 above described can be commenced. 



