588 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



are parrot-toed or crooked-legged, and, in general, in those with defec- 

 tive axes of the members. 



The extremities, under each of these conditions, approach each 

 other inordinately, either in the anterior or in the posterior biped, or 

 the hind-members do not find sufficient space under the body to move 

 freely. 



3d. The irregular play of the articulations, which prevents the 

 bony levers from being- flexed and extended in planes parallel to the 

 median line, as is seen when the subject has excessive knee-action and 

 the knees and the hocks are arched outward. 



4th. Enlargements of the inferior and internal parts of the members, 

 whatever may be their nature. 



5th. Improper shoeing, when the foot is not level, has a defective 

 axis, or the shoe and the hoof are too wide. 



6th. Finally, fatigue, which has the same effect as weakness, and 

 diminishes, in the horse, the facility of moving the members with the 

 proper precision, regularity, extent, and direction. The defect, in this 

 instance, disappears with rest and moderate exercise ; it must therefore 

 be considered as accidental and temporary. 



All horses do not interfere with the same part of the shoe ; it is 

 sometimes the mamma and sometimes the quarter which strikes and 

 wounds the member on the ground. It is important to ascertain this 

 fact in order to apply intelligent treatment concerning the shoeing. 



It would extend beyond our plan to enter more minutely into the 

 details of this defect of the gaits ; hence we refer the reader to works 

 which deal specially with this condition. 1 



Concerning the treatment, we will limit ourselves simply to the 

 following principal indications : 



In weak and exhausted horses a good regimen, moderate work, and 

 rational shoeing give, as* a rule, satisfactory results. In those which 

 have a bad conformation, as irregular axes of the members, it is 

 entirely different, and the treatment is very often unsatisfactory. In- 

 terfering-boots, shin-boots, etc., are employed to protect the affected 

 parts. Finally, a particular mode of shoeing is practised, especially 

 that called the Turkish. 



3d. Lameness. This name is given, says H. Bouley, 2 "to an 

 irregularity of the gait, determined by an inequality or a diminution 

 of the action of one or several of the locomotory columns." 



1 H. Bouley, Nouveau Dictionnaire. etc., t. iv. p. 441. 



2 We borrow the details which follow from the excellent work on Lameness, which 

 H. Bouley has published in the Nouveau Dictionnaire, etc., t. ii. p. 503. 



