Diseases of the Limbs AT«fD Boxy Structukk 235 



KNOWLEDGE. XOT WiSDoM, .XEEDKJ) 



It is not the thonght of the writer to make a diagnostician of. 

 I'nyone by this article, but the article will not have been written 

 in vain if we are successful in disabusing some of the ridiculous 

 teachings and theories that have been forced upon the public for 

 years by the self-styled "• horse doctor," and the doubly-wise lay- 

 man of the past. Like with "hollow horn" and ''wolf in the 

 tail," we have much to undo and then start anew. ' 



The writer has often thought that humane societies in many in- 

 stances were watching the mouse and letting the lion run ram- 

 pant, when we have been repeatedly called to see the poor lame 

 horse that had been lame perhaps for weeks, getting no better, and 

 rind him suffering with a suppurating corn of the foot, and being 

 tortured by a rowel in his shoulder that the wise " quack " had 

 placed there, knowing of course at once without making any ex- 

 amination, that the '' boss was lame in the shoulder." Similarly 

 we have removed nails from the hind foot after the owner's pa- 

 lience had been exhausted, and the poor animal's whirlbone or 

 stifle blistered and scarred by one who should have been styled 

 " the nuisance of the neighborhood." 



Lameness is one of the very important branches of veterinary 

 science. Obscure lameness is one of the most difiicult things to 

 locate that the veterinarian has to contend with, and it is ridicu- 

 lously absurd for one not skilled in the knowledge of anatomy and 

 locomotion to think of making an accurate diagnosis. 



We appreciate that in order to make this article of value to 

 its readers, a methodical review of the extremities laust be made. 

 But it M^O'uld be well to preface such a review with all possible 

 force — that the same principles apply in lameness as in sick- 

 ness. When you are not reasonably certain of what the trouble 

 is, do nothing ; give Is^ature, the goddess of all medicine, a chance. 

 If you must do something, then apply simple remedies, such as 

 Jiot or cold water, poulticing and the like. Never apply blisters, 

 burning liniments, or similar aggravating things, without know- 

 ing positively that they are necessary. 



Keep in mind that a horse is less liable to be lame in the 

 shoulder than below the knee ; and, notwithstanding the traditions 



