42 THE HORSE. 



out pain, even on the road, when they are no longer fit 

 for fast work; and even when the road is too hard, they 

 may work about a farm. I need hardly add that there is 

 great cruelty in keeping horses to any fast work when 

 lame in it, and that frequently at slow work, particularly 

 on soft ground, they will become sound if kept a suffi- 

 cient time employed upon it. From the preceding ob- 

 servations, you will see the propriety of having the horse 

 ridden prior to purchase. 



One fallacy I must here point out, as it is often prac- 

 tised by persons who would not be guilty of cruelty, if 

 they imagined they were perpetrating it; and many others 

 may be deterred by the money consideration : it is the 

 mistake of keeping horses at work when they are lame, 

 thinking that they will work sound. It must be remem- 

 bered that all lameness, with rare exceptions, is curable 

 (if proper remedies are resorted to) with perfect rest at 

 the commencement of the disease. But if lameness contin- 

 ues without remedy beyond six weeks, some disorganiza- 

 tion will take place. The diseases of horses are rapid in 

 their progress and quickly come to a definite termination; 

 and though, after neglect, the disease may be mitigated, 

 the horse can never be restored to PERFECT SOUNDNESS, 

 but will most probably be a cripple and in pain to the 

 end of his days. In the earliest stages of the disease, too, 

 the injured part is more easily discovered. This is more 

 than half the cure. 



Kor is the veterinarian to be blamed for not being too 

 confident as to the immediate seat of disease. The horse 

 cannot point to an affected part and say, " There I feel 

 the pain;" but together, horse and doctor will soon un- 

 derstand enough of each other to hit upon the spot and 

 work right. 



When lame behind, horses carry their heads high, go 

 with a catch of the hind leg, and roll the hips. Every 

 species of lameness and tenderness is an 



