24 ON SOUNDNESS. 



as, this organ being of such a delicate nature, any disease 

 of the eye may terminate in blindness; a slight cold may so 

 weaken the eyes that a local inflammation may arise, from 

 which it may run on to an obstinate case of ophthalmia, 

 then to a cataract, and finally blindness. 



Enlargement of the Sinews or Ligaments is to be 

 considered as unsoundness, as it is caused from severe 

 strain, not only so that the tendons are inflamed, but often 

 trouble arises from effusion of blood in the sheath, and 

 the disease, whether trivial or severe, should never be 

 thought hghtly of, as it in all probability may render the 

 animal a cripple ; lameness may not be present, but such a 

 horse is to be looked on as in duty bound to go lame at any 

 moment, and is in all cases an unsound one. 



Founder is considered as unsoundness, whether in the 

 acute or chronic form ; as the elasticity of the laminae is 

 somewhat destroyed, and the foot generally assumes an 

 utterly unnatural shape, if not in the external appearance, 

 most invariably in the internal portion of the foot. When 

 the disease has been going on for some time, the elastic sub- 

 stances between the laminae and the pedal bone, as well as 

 the fine horny lamellae between them and the crust, lose the 

 property of extension, and the horn of the crust is secreted 

 by nature of a more spongy character, and much thicker in 

 substance, than in health -, the sole is always flatter than 

 natural, and causes in many instances the convex sole; 

 besides, from the nature of the disease, the, muscles of the 

 chest generally waste away from want of proper action, 

 caused by the attitude of the animal during tbe disease; no 

 matter how well the animal might appear after an attack 

 of founder (Laminitis) no person can give a warranty on 

 such a horse, as he is liable at any time, from the slightest 

 chill, or other slight causes, to be attacked again. In fact, 



