294 Mmiage^nent mid Treai7ne7it of the Hoi'se. 



ticularly draw the attention of the intending 

 purchaser to the fetlock joints of the horse, and 

 if he finds a mark of a cnt which may be only 

 an inch long, or it may be some inches, situate 

 parallel with the shank bone, and immediately 

 below or above the pastern joint ; if such a mark 

 is found, it is certain that the horse has been 

 nerved, an operation which is performed by cut- 

 ting a portion of the nerve away, to render a 

 horse workably sound which has an invariable 

 attack of navicular disease ; such horse should be 

 instantly neglected. In examining the foot, if 

 the sides of the hoof are marked with circular 

 depressions running parallel with the coronet, it 

 is certain that severe inflammation has existed at 

 some time in the sensible portion of the foot, and 

 is consequently liable to a return of it at any time 

 after a little over-exertion. See that both fore 

 feet as well as the hind ones are of an equal size, 

 and ascertain that they are quite cool and equally 

 so ; attend to the sole, see that it is of its proper 

 shape ; thrush can be detected by the smell, 

 besides the other symptoms which I have already 

 described. As the feet of horses are of such im- 

 portance, I would advise every one to acquire a 

 knowledge of them, and to do this there is no 

 better plan than to attend daily a well-employed' 

 shoeing-forge, and for a small gratuity the smith 

 will point out the different formations of the feet 

 that come under his observation. If he has had 

 experience, he will be able to point out readily 

 the indications of disease ; he will also see why 

 different formed feet require that the shoes should 



