54 THE HORSE 



fore feet and toes, in the hind ones consists of a spHt in 

 the wall of the hoof, and is due to an imperfect secretion 

 of horn from the horn-forming structures at the coronary 

 band. It always starts from above and extends down- 

 wards. It may cause acute lameness, or this may be 

 absent. These cracks are sometimes filled in for the 

 purpose of deception, and their presence may easily be 

 overlooked. 



It is equally important to have sound sight and sound 

 wind. The eyes require critical inspection (see diseases 

 of eye). The two chief defects of wind are (a) roaring, 

 (b) broken wind. The former is an affection (in 90 per 

 cent of instances at least) of the larynx and the latter one 

 impHcating the lungs. They are both fairly common 

 complaints in heavy draught horses, and materially inter- 

 fere with the commercial value of the affected anim.al 

 (see chapter dealing with these troubles), though not 

 necessarily rendering it less useful to the owner. 



Thus detection, prior to concluding purchase, is of 

 vital importance to the buyer, otherwise a considerable 

 sum of money may be dropped. 



There are quite a number of diseases affecting the 

 various structures of the limbs, but the chief ones of 

 interest to the buyer of heavy horses are : 



Side-bone, shivering, ring-bone, bone-spavin, wind- 

 galls, and other bursal swelhngs, contraction of the 

 tendons, curb, thoro-pin, sprung-hock, and capped-hock 

 (see these diseases). In addition to the troubles already 

 enumerated, horses of all kinds are liable to be affected 

 with various obscure affections such as coHc, worms, 

 strangles, cramp, staggers, any of which may be easily 

 overlooked at the time of purchase. 



Failure to detect any obscure maladies implies no 

 liabihty in damages against the professional examiner, 

 unless neglect of proper skill can be proved. 



Veterinary surgeons, Hke the rest of human beings, have 

 no pretence to infallibility, but given a good man for the 



