58 THE HORSE. 



elbow. No horse can be sound having a curb. Dr. 

 Bracken assigns reasons why sickle or crooked ham- 

 med horses should -be more liable to this defect than 

 the straight legged ; but it has so happened that, I do 

 not recollect ever seeing; a sickle hammed horse with 

 a curb. The ringbone, when confirmed is, so far as 

 I have experienced, incurable, and the horse unsound. 

 Its position on the lower part of the pastern, between 

 it and the coronet, nearly encircling the front like a 

 ring. When this callosity is distinct, affecting only 

 the pastern, without touching the coronet, it is not of 

 so bad consequence, though indeed bad enough, as 

 when it reaches the coronet. It is said, ringbones 

 have .been known upon un worked colts, which, how- 

 ever, I have never witnessed. The thorough pin ap- 

 pears in the hollows on the sides of the hock, and is 

 a communication from the bog spavin. 



Grease, Mallenders and Sallenders, Scratches, Crown 

 Scab, Ratstails, Warts and Mules. 



The well known malady, grease in the'legs and heels 

 of the horse, is an extravasation from the vessels, 

 and thence oozing through the skin, of serum or sim- 

 ple humour, which being elimated becomes corrupt 

 and fetid. It arises either from the want of exercise 

 abroad, or of the recumbent posture, to promote the 

 circulation of the fluids in dependent parts. Round 

 and fleshy legged horses are most subject to this 

 malady, which, however, does not afflict even those 

 when abroad in pasture. The terms above denote 

 affections of the same nature, and appertaining to 

 grease. 



