46 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



this infirmity is often difficult of appreciation, although it may occasion 

 great inconveniences in animals which are governed by the voice of 

 their master. 



As M. Kichard ^ remarks, in deaf horses the ears are generally 

 fixed, directed forward or laterally, vainly endeavoring to perceive 

 sound. This attitude, by itself alone, does not permit us to recognize 

 this defect at the time of sale. In most instances it passes unperceived, 

 and is only observed after the animal has been worked for some time. 

 Deaf horses are ordinarily docile, both in harness and in the stable, and 

 respond quickly to all the indications of the bridle and bit. The 

 Arabians, with almost self-love for their horses, urge them with the 

 voice as well as with the hand, and reject those which are deaf a& 

 being fit only for the pack-saddle, and of little value as saddle-horses. 

 Nevertheless, it is more prejudicial in draught-horses. Those that are 

 mounted are more easily guided by the action of the bridle. 



B.~The Temple (Fig. 19). 



Situation; Limits; Anatomical Base. — This is a double 

 region, more or less prominent, situated on the lateral faces of the 

 head. It has for its anatomical base the exterior of the temporo- 

 maxillary articulation, and is limited below by the cheelc, behind by the 

 parotid region, and in front and above more or less directly by the ear^ 

 the eye, and the supra-orbit. 



The principal qualifications which we seek here are its distinct- 

 ness and its freedom from blemishes. 



Diseases and Blemishes. — Denudations, excoriations, and wounds of this, 

 region deserve to be taken into consideration. The first are the result of friction 

 from disordered movements of the head, as in animals tossing themselves about 

 when suffering from colic, vertigo, epilepsy, or grave diseases of the feet, when 

 the animal assumes a prolonged decubitus, etc. The second, on the contrary, are 

 the consequences of severer causes, as traumatisms of various kinds, which may 

 primarily or secondarily open the articulation, allow the escape of the synovial 

 fluid, and produce a fistula. The last accident is serious, the horse being unable 

 to masticate his aliment properly on account of the pain which the movements 

 of the jaws produce.'^ It is not astonishing that an affection of such a nature 

 might be concealed by a hood which covers the ears to protect their interior 

 from foreign bodies and insects. At any rate, the animal should always be un- 

 covered during the examination, and such an alteration of the temple should 

 never escape the attention of the observer. 



1 Richard, feude du cheval, 6e 6d., p. 66. 

 « A. Goubaux, Comptes-Rendus de laSoci6t^ v^t^rinaire (stance du 27 avril, 1876). 



