ABSOLUTE UNSOUNDNESS. 27 



ligament; or alteration of structure in these parts due to 

 sprain. — The alteration, in almost all these cases, will be 

 manifested by thickening, lengthening, or shortening of 

 the affected part. No distinction should be made as 

 regards the question of soundness, between sprain of a 

 tendon, and sprain of its sheath. 



Strlnghalt. — This is an unsoundness (Thompson v. 

 Patteson*), on account of its always giving rise to lame- 

 ness. In Anderton v. Wright^ (Wigan County Court, 

 1871), "His Honour said that it was perfectly clear 

 that stringhalt constituted unsoundness." Stringhalt, 

 generally, tends to get worse with age. 



Thick wind. — [Atkinson v. Rorridge.X) 



Thoroughpin. — Thoroughpin is a distended condition 

 of the synovial sheath of the tendon of the flexor pedis 

 perforans muscle of one of the hind limbs. It may be 

 due to disease or injury of the tendon, in which case it 

 would be a grave defect ; or to a very abundant supply 

 of synovia, without any signs of inflammatory action 

 having taken place. In the latter instance, a thorough- 

 pin might be regarded as of little consequence, provided 

 that it was small, did not in any way affect the action, 

 and that the horse was at least seven years old. If the 

 hocks have been subjected to a good deal of work, it is 



* Olipliant's Laiv of Horses. 

 t Veterinarian for 1871, p. 522. 

 X Oliph ant's Law of Horses. 



