EXAMINATION FOR UNSOUNDNESS 53 



may be suspected, which should lead to a trial of the mallein 

 test if there is any suspicion of the former. 



92. Impaired Vision. In regard to the eye there are 

 many defects of vision which can hardly be termed unsound- 

 nesses, 5'et they should be carefully looked for. A horse by 

 its action will usually indicate if the eyesight is good. Step- 

 ping inordinately high or an inclination to shy readily indi- 

 cate defective vision. By moving the hand gently in front 

 of the eye, blindness may generally be discovered if the eye 

 is so aflfected. The hand should be moved slowly for if the 

 motion is made quickly the influence of the air on the eye 

 will induce the horse to shut it though it may not have seen 

 the motion of the hand. 



93. Defective Hearing. Defects of hearing are more com- 

 mon than is ordinarily supposed and they can usually be 

 foretold by the action of the ears. Rigid ears indicate that 

 the hearing has been lost. On the other hand when the ears 

 are used excessively there is reason to suspect that the eye- 

 sight is not as perfect as it should be and on that account 

 the horse is trying to make its ears assist its eyes bj^ follow- 

 ing closely every sound. 



94. Sweenied Shoulders. Passing to the shoulder it 

 should be closely observed for the presence of sweeny. 

 This is a shrinkage or atrophy of the muscles of this region 

 leaving the shoulder appear flat and the blade bare of muscle. 



95. Capped Elbows. On the point of the elbow, shoe 

 boils or capped elbows may be frequently seen. The point 

 of the elbow is unduly enlarged by the accumulation of mat- 

 ter. It is a blemish as it is unsightly though not interfering 

 with the horse at work. 



96. Splints. Continuing down the fore leg, splints should 

 be looked for on the cannon. They may be found on almost 

 any part of this region but some care is necessary not to 

 mistake the ends of the two small bones, that are associated 

 with the cannon, for splints. In some horses the end of 



