LAMENESS. 13 



information it must be obvious that any treatment instituted can 

 be nothing better than guesswork and empiricism. 



Lameness occurs much oftener in the fore than in the hind limbs, 

 perhaps in the ratio of three or four cases to one ; the proportion, 

 however, will a good deal depend upon the breed and make of the 

 horse, and upon the kind of work to which he is put. The ma- 

 jority of lamenesses occurring in the hind limbs are located in the 

 hock ; the hind fetlock and flexor sinews occasionally fail ; the 

 joints of the hind foot very rarely shew disease. Of the fore limb, 

 on the other hand, the foot-joints are the parts which more fre- 

 quently than others harbour lameness ; the flexor sinews, and fet- 

 lock, and knee-joints, being the next disposed to fail ; the shoulder- 

 joint comparatively rarely. The fore feet become very often 

 diseased in light blood horses used as hackneys upon hard roads ; 

 the sinews, hock, knee, and fetlock joints are very apt to fail in 

 hunters and racers. From such-like established facts we learn that 

 it is concussion which is the grand cause of joint-lamenesses, and 

 sprain or over-work which occasions sinew and ligamentary lame- 

 nesses. 



An observant practitioner will often be able to derive a good deal 

 of information concerning the locality or seat of lameness while he 

 is watching the action of the horse with the view of ascertaining the 

 lame leg. The tread or stepping of a horse is sometimes found very 

 characteristic, at other times his gait or Tnode of projecting his 

 lame limb is an indicative symptom. How different, for example, 

 will be the going of a horse lame in the foot from one that is lame 

 in the shoulder : in one instance the animal will boldly advance 

 his limb, but fearfully place his foot upon the ground ; while in the 

 other case he will shew impediment or difficult}' in projecting the 

 same limb. It will be observed whether he turns his toe unnatu- 

 rally inward or outward, or whether in going he treads most upon 

 the heel or upon the toe of the foot : on which last circumstance 

 further and more correct information may be obtained by inspection 

 of the shoe of the lame foot, the parts worn indicating the greatest 

 pressure or habitual tread of the foot. 



With the information, then, of how the horse contracted his 

 lameness, when and where he contracted it, whether he points 



