386 DISEASES OF THE IIOKSE. 



sinewy, as it is termed ; it may be considered as a sound, well- 

 formed leg. But if the leg, on a side view, appear rather round 

 than flat, or rather bent and inclining inwards; if the sinew 

 and ligament cannot be distinctly and separately felt ; and par- 

 ticularly if one leg is larger than the other ; it may be concluded, 

 that the part has sustained some injury, and that there is a pro- 

 bal)ility of the horse becoming lame, when put to hard work. 



If any mark be found on the knees, it is the safest plan to 

 infer that it was occasioned by falling, though the seller should 

 affirm tliat it happened in going over the bar, stepping into a 

 boat, or by striking it against the manger. 



Few horses are entirely free from splents ; they need not, 

 tlierefore, be regarded, unless of a large size, immediately below 

 the knee-joint, or so near the back sinew, or suspensory liga- 

 ment, as to interfere with their action, or unless they are tender 

 on being pressed. 



In examinino* the hind legs, begin with the liock ; and if there 

 be any spavin, it may be seen most readily by looking between 

 the hocks, or still better by looking between the fore legs, rather 

 inclining to one side. The bones, which form the projection on 

 the inside of the hock, are in some horses rather larger than in 

 others, which should not be mistaken for bone spavin : but there 

 is no great difficulty in making the distinction, for should both 

 hocks be affected with spavin, it rarely happens that they are 

 exactly alike, or of the same size ; and when one hock only is 

 affected, the difference is sufficiently manifest to point out the 

 disease. A side view of the hocks should next be taken, and if 

 there be a curb, it will readily be perceived. Observe, in the 

 next place, if there be any ringbone upon the pastern, which, 

 though a considerable defect, does not always produce lameness, 

 but more frequently in the fore leg than the hind. I have lately 

 seen a mare that was purchased about two years ago with a 

 ringbone on the hind pastern. She was not lame from it, and 

 never has been since that time, though hunted regularly for two 

 seasons. 



In examining the bottom of the hind foot, we have only to 

 ascertain that it is not affected with canker, or very bad thrushes. 



Some horses have a tendency to swelling of the hind legs, or 

 to that discharge from the heels which constitutes the disease 

 termed grease ; and horses with white legs seem to be more dis- 

 posed to this complaint than others. When a horse's hind legs, 

 therefore, appear to be swollen, if the hair about the heels 

 appear rough or furzy, or if there be scars on the heels, or an 

 ap[)earance of their having been affected with cracks or ulcers, it 

 may be inferred that the horse is subject to grease and swelling 

 of the legs. 



Having finished our examination of the feet and limbs, we 



