SECTION I. 

 ETIOLOGY AND OCCURRENCE. 



In discussions of pathological conditions contributing to lame- 

 ness in the horse, cause is generally classified under two heads — 

 predisposing and v.rcllinn. It becomes necessary, however, to 

 adopt a more general and comprehensive method of classification, 

 herein, which will enable the reader to obtain a better conception 

 of the subject and to more clearly associate the parts so grouped 

 descriptively. 



Though predisposing factors, such as faulty conformation, are 

 often to be reckoned with, exciting causes predominate more fre- 

 quently in any given number of cases. The noble tendency of 

 the horse to serve its master under the stress of pain, even to 

 the point of complete exhaustion and sudden death, should win 

 for these willing servants a deeper consideration of their welfare. 

 Too frequently are their manifestations of discomfort allowed 

 to pass unheeded ])y careless, incompetent drivers lacking in a 

 sense of compassion. Symptoms of malaise should never be 

 ignored in any case; the humane and economic features should 

 be realized by any owner of animals. 



In the consideration of group causes, lameness may be said 

 to originate from affections of bones, ligaments, thecae and bur- 

 sae, muscles and tendons, nerves, lymph vessels and glands, and 

 blood vessels, and may also result from an involvement of one or 

 several of the aforementioned tissues, caused by rheumatism. 

 Further, affections of the feet merit separate consideration, and, 

 finally, a miscellaneous grouping of various dissimilar ailments, 

 which for the most part, do not directly involve the locomotory 

 a]i]iaratus l)ut do. by their nature, impede normal movement. 



AFFECTIONS OF BONES. 



The bony coliuini serving as the framework and support of 

 the legs, probably constitutes the most vital element having to 

 do with weight bearing and locomotion, and therefore during 

 the acute and painful stage of bone affections, the pain becomes 



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