SC4 THE p'ARM DOCTOR. 



one foot more frequently and for longer periods than its fellow 

 is suspicious. 



Lying. — An inclination to lie down, and remain so, is to be 

 similarly regarded. If the animal remains down persistently, 

 we may infer great suffering, fractures, or much weakness. 



In Exercise. — Lameness may be shown in the walk, but 

 better in the slow, easy trot, the animal being led in hand with 

 about three feet of free rein and without noise or other cause 

 of excitement. Some horses manifest a bridle lameness from 

 the mere leading, but if the leader goes first on the left side 

 and then on the right, the drooping of the head will correspond 

 first to the one foot and then to the other, showing it to be 

 only a feint. In all cases of lameness in a single limb the 

 foot is rested on the ground with less weight and is raised as 

 quickly as possible. There is therefore not only the visible 

 halting on that limb, but a lower sound made by striking the 

 ground, and thus the ear comes to assist the eye in detecting 

 the ailing member. If one fore limb is affected, the head and 

 anterior part of the body are elevated when its foot comes to 

 the ground, but drop firmly when the sound foot is planted 

 A depression of the opposite hind limb accompanying the 

 elevation of the head, when the failing fore limb comes to the 

 ground, must not lead to the suspicion of lameness behind. 



In single lameness behind, the gait resembles that seen in 

 lameness before, the haunch on the diseased side being raised 

 when the foot is planted and allowed to droop thereafter until 

 the opposite foot reaches the ground. In some, the elevation 

 is the prominent feature, in others the depression, but in ail the 

 rising and falling are greater than in the opposite quarter. 



With lameness in both fore limbs the step is short, the stroke 

 on the ground weak, the rest of each foot on the ground 

 shortened, the shoulders are carried upright and stiff, the head 

 is raised, the loins are arched, the croup droops, and the hind 

 limbs are brought unnaturally forward beneath the belly. 



