THE DISEASES OF JOliNTS. 31 



sinew, it is indispensable that the animal, up to a certain period of 

 growth, should not be over- weighted or strained beyond his powers: 

 Nature will make him fit for what he is intended, if not blighted 

 in her operations by the chilling and destructive hand of Art. It 

 is lamentable to behold the number of horses there are in this 

 sporting country of ours ruined by premature work. 



Although joint lamenesses are, when they arise from sprains or 

 blows, in general perceptible enough, yet are they frequently ob- 

 scure in their nature, and difficult of detection, in cases in which 

 their origin is spontaneous, i. e. not traceable to sprain or blow or 

 other external injury. The horse is brought to us lame, very lame, 

 perhaps, and the account of his lameness is accompanied with the 

 emphatic reminder, that there is " nothing to be seen," '* nothing 

 to be felt," in the lame limb : in fact, the case is such as has put 

 to confusion all the veterinary knowledge possessed by both the 

 groom and his master. Science, however, has taught the veteri- 

 narian that, from the very nature of joint lameness, in many — in 

 most — instances, such signs as would attract outward notice are 

 not to be sought after. How is a joint incased within the hoof to 

 shew swelling, or even heat such as unprofessional touch would 

 detect ] nay, it is not likely even that any joint whose disease 

 has originated and is seated in the synovial membrane would 

 evince any such external changes as would enable inexperienced 

 hands to detect the disease; and therefore we are not to feel 

 dismayed or discouraged by any such report as commonly accom- 

 panies these mysterious cases, but, on the contrary, the more 

 scrupulously apply our art to the unravelment of them. 



The first inquiry we ought to make, is into the history of the 

 case presented to us for examination. How long since the lame- 

 ness occurred ; in what manner, or from what supposed cause, it 

 happened ; whether it came on suddenly or by degrees, getting 

 one day better, another day worse ; and what attitude the horse is 

 in the habit of assuming in his stall, whether he points or rests 

 the foot of his lame limb or not. These and any other requisite 

 particulars being obtained, the next observation to be made is, as 

 regards the horse's action with his lame leg — in what manner he 

 lifts and projects it, and sets it down upon the ground. Finally, 



