EXAMINATIO^^ FOR PURCHASE. 271 



and if you have a firm unyielding sole, in a circular foot, it 

 is a rock of danc^er, and the forerunner of navicular disease. 



The inner quarters of the hoof must be most minutely 

 inspected for sand-crack ; and it is not always easy, with- 

 out minute scrutiny, to detect a sand-crack, where an at- 

 tempt has been made to conceal it. A month's run in 

 marshy ground will often close it up, and low dealers, par- 

 ticularly at fairs ai-d markets, and others who gain a live- 

 lihood by dealing in ** screws," have a knack of neatly 

 covering the crack with pitch, and the foot oiled, so as ad- 

 roitly to conceal the crack ; any oily appearance about the 

 hoof should excite suspicion, and any fissure at all resem- 

 bling sand-crack should cause the horse to be peremptorily 

 rejected. Cracks iij iicate a dry and brittle hoof. The 

 heels should be examined for any cracks, or appearance of 

 heat and tenderness, as they are exceedingly troublesome 

 to cure. 



The frog, in its healthy state, must be firm yet pliable 

 and elastic. If there is any smell, or if on squeezing the 

 frog matter exudes, there is a thrush. By many people, 

 thiTishes are considered of little importance ; but,.when it 

 is considered that where there is purulent matter there 

 must have been inflammation ; and that when a horse v/ith 

 a thrush steps on a stone, he frequently drops with ihe 

 pain as if he was shot, to the peril of his rider and the 

 ruin of his knees, it must be admitted they are se?"ous 

 objections in a saddle horse. If it can be ascertained ti.al 

 they are not of long standing, or that the horse has i^e( n 

 placed in a situation so as to favour their approach, mk h 

 as confinement in a hot moist litter, they are of no n.oie 

 consequence than so much diminution in his price as will 

 cover the expense of keep and attendance while healing ; 

 but when a thrush accompanies a foot smaller than usual, 

 the heels wind in, and the frog rotten, let him go as he 

 will, he will not long remain sound. 



The sole of the foot should be subject to close examina- 

 lion ; in its healthy and natural state it is inclined to bo 

 concave, but if in connexion with high heels an extraor- 

 dinary concavity is present, it is a sign of internal contrac- 

 tion ; if the sole is morbidly thick, and does not give way 

 durino^ great exertion, the elasticity of the foot must be 

 diminished. If the sole is less concave than natural, o/ 

 approaching to flat, the foot is weak. 



