38 THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 



right nor left ; feet turned outwards are very liable to 

 cut and trip, and the action is seldom good or agreeable. 

 Horses with an inward inclination are pigeon-toed, and 

 have a labored action. The fore-legs should be set well 

 under the shoulder, affording ample support to it — such 

 as have their legs placed forward, possess neither power 

 nor action. The hind legs should either be straight from 

 the hock downwards, or have a slight inclination under 

 the belly, but not too much. That horse is sound in 

 which there is no disease, or alteration of structure in 

 any part, that is likely to impair its natural usefulness. 

 The term natural usefulness should be understood. One 

 horse may possess great speed, but no power of endu- 

 rance ; another will work all day, but cannot be urged 

 beyond a slow pace ; one with a heavy forehead, is liable 

 to stumble ; another, with an irritable constitution, and 

 washy make, loses his appetite, and begins to scour if a 

 little extra work is exacted from him. The term 

 unsoundness, cannot be applied to either of these, it has 

 reference only to disease, or alteration of structure. 

 Any of the undermentioned defects will constitute an 

 unsound horse, i.e. broken knees, (if a stumbler) capped 

 hocks, contractions of the foot, corns, chronic cough, 

 roaring, wheezing, high blowling, grunting, broken 

 wind, crib, biting, enlarged hock, lameness, ossification 

 of the cai"tilege, pumiced feet, quitter, sand crack, splint 

 (if interfering with the action), thickness of the back 

 sinews, thi'ushes, wind galls (if large), ringbone, spavins. 

 JBe also particular about the crown of the head, to 

 ascertain if he has the poll evil ; examine his nostrils, 

 and if there is a fetid discharge, he is glandered, or 

 otherwise affected with a nasal gleet. To be sure of 

 this, the nostrils should be pinched together for about 

 a minute, to prevent him from breathing, and on removing 

 the hand, he is sure to snoit, which will blow out any 

 matter if he is diseased. The tongue should also be 

 looked to. Examine the eyes for gutta serena and 

 blindness. See that the withers are not fistulous. 



