Examining for Lameness, 195 



TO ASCERTAIN THE CATJSE OF THE LAMEITESS. 



Lameness is not a disease in itself, but only the sign of a 

 disease or an injury. It may arise from some local disorder 

 in the foot, the bones of the legs or the joints ; or from some 

 general disease, as rheumatism, palsy, affections of the brain, 

 and even of the liver. 



In every case of lameness where the cause is not perfectly 

 obvious, it is well to begin the search for it by removing the 

 shoe and closely examining the foot for the presence of some 

 of its numerous diseases, which will be shortly mentioned. 

 Satisfied that the cause is not in the foot, we should next pro- 

 ceed up the limb, carefully scrutinizing the soft parts, the 

 bones and the joints, for any signs of injuries, tumors, tender- 

 ness, swellings, or inflammation. If here, too, we are at 

 fault, then we should run over the general diseases of the 

 animal, mentioned above, which are accompanied by lame- 

 ness as one of their symptoms. An examination conducted 

 in this manner will seldom fail to result satisfactorily. 



In the description of local diseases causing lameness, 

 which follows, we shall pursue the course here indicated, be- 

 ginning with diseases of the foot, and proceeding up the 

 limb. 



As the subject of lameness is so important to all dealers in 

 horses, we add the following 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE SYMPTOMS OF LAMENESS, AND 



THEIR SIGNIFICANCE. 



The symptoms have reference to the animal either, 1, at rest, 

 or 2, in motion. ^'' Pointing,'' it will be borne in mind, may be 

 only a habit; in that case one fore and one hind limb point; 

 but when it is indicative of lameness, only one limb points. 



