EXAMINATION FOR PURCHASE. 269 



sn'iargeraent of the glands , if, although enlarged, they are 

 moveable and lender, it is probably nothing more than a 

 catarrhal affection. And here it may be necessary to ob- 

 serve, that in deciding upon the disease with which the 

 horse is afflicted, it is requisite to bear in mind the age of 

 the animal. In examining the head of a young hor^e, 

 should the space between the branches be hot, tumid, and 

 tender, the membrane of the nose intensely red, with pro- 

 fuse discharge from both nostrils, and cough and fever pre- 

 sent itself, we may more than suspect strangles. Where, 

 however, there is neither cough or fever, but one nostril 

 and that the left, affected, the discharge lighter in coloui, 

 and almost transparent, yet clammy and sticky, and thn 

 gland on that side adherent to the jaw bone, glanders is in- 

 dicated. In this case, should the lining membrane of tho 

 nostril be found pale, or of a leaden colour, with small cir- 

 cular ulcers, having abrupt and prominent edges, there can 

 be no second opinion on the subject. 



But we caution the inexperienced examiner not to mis- 

 take the orifice of the nasal duct, which is situated in the 

 inner side, just within the nostril on the continuation of the 

 common skin of the muzzle, and which conveys the tears 

 from the eye into the nose, for an ulcer ; and waiTi him, in 

 all suspicious cases, to be careful he has no chaps or sore 

 places on his head or face ; as this dreadful disease is un- 

 questionably communicable to the human being. As few 

 persons will buy a horse with any symptoms of actual dis- 

 ease, however slight, if they can help it, the inquiry is bet- 

 ter left to a professional man, in case any of these symptoms 

 make their appearance after purchase. 



His crest should feel hard and full, and firmly and clostly 

 attached to his neck ; if it be lax, he is out of condition. 

 His skin should feel kind, and look glossy, and the muscles 

 of the body feel hard and spungy to the touch. In the old 

 horse, the head grows lean and fine, and the features more 

 striking and blood like, the neck fine, withers short, and 

 the back sinks ; the lips exhibit a lean and shrivelled ap- 

 pearance, and the lower lip hangs considerably lielow the 

 upper. In youth they are round and plu?np, and meet to- 

 gether, and the ridges of the roof of the mouth will be 

 found prominent. In age, the middle of the nose will some- 

 times be found indented by the long-continued pressure of 



