UNSOUNDNESSES AND BLEMISHES 145 



movements cau be observed from both sides, from behind and in 

 front. This examination should be repeated with the horse at 

 a slow trot. 



The character of the lameness may enable us to locate the 

 seat of the disease. We must first determine in which limb the 

 animal is lame. This part of the diagnosis is not ditHcult. The 

 pain suffered every time weight is thrown on tlie diseased limb 

 causes the horse to step quickly and shift as much of the body 

 weight as possible on the well foot. The foot of the lame limb 

 is jerked up rather (juickly after weight is thro\\m on it. This 

 favoring of the part varies in the different diseases. When the 

 foot of the sound limb comes to the ground, more weight than 

 common is placed on it. If the seat of the lameness is in a front 

 limb, there is a decided nodding or movement of the head down- 

 ward when the weight is placed on the well foot. If both fore- 

 feet are diseased, the animal steps shorter and more quickly than 

 common. Lameness in a hind limb is characterized by more or 

 less dropping of the quarter of the well limb when weight is 

 thrown on it, and sometimes by a " hitch " or elevation of the 

 quarter of the diseased limb when it is carried forward. 



Unless there are local symptoms of disease present, it may 

 be quite difficult to locate the seat of lameness. Sometimes local 

 sjanptoms are misleading. After the lameness has been located 

 in a certain limb, its movement must be carefully noted in order 

 to detect the part favored. If the lameness is not characteristic 

 enough to enable the examiner to locate the seat of it, it is then 

 necessary to put the animal through some movement that may 

 emphasize the soreness in the part. The animal may show a cer- 

 tain reluctance to throw weight on the limb when turned to the 

 right or left. Moving the horse in a small circle with the lame 

 limb on the outside may cause the animal to use the muscles 

 of the shoulder more freely, and emphasize any soreness that 

 may be present. If the lame limb is on the inside, soreness 

 anywhere in the foot may be increased, because of the extra 

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