23-i LAMENESS. 



horse * jarefully round," he ^ hould watch narrowly, and com- 

 pel him to be turned quickly. Slight chorea or stringhalt 

 is seldom detected except during the turn, and I have seen 

 cases where it was manifested when the animal was turned one 

 way only. 



In other cases lameness may exist in two or more limbs, 

 but not equally; and when so complicated, the animal may 

 endeavour to save the lame limbs by throwing his weight from 

 them in a manner so peculiar that it requires great care to 

 distinguish the true nature of the case, and to form a correct 

 opinion. 



Again, there are some horses which walk down hill in so 

 peculiar a manner, that they may be supposed to be kjne. 

 This kind of walk has been termed a " three-cornered walk." 

 The animal sways from side to side most awkwardly ; his hind 

 quarters being tiirned to the one side or the other, going forwards 

 hroadside-on, similar to an animal going down hill with a heavy 

 load behind him. Young horses, when being broken-in, shoiild 

 be corrected of this fault, as it is most unsightly ; and to see a 

 rider on a horse of this kind reminds one very forcibly of Don 

 Quixote and Rosinante. 



A touch of the whip or spur will cause the horse to improve 

 his paces, and at once show that it is not lameness, but laziness, 

 from which he is suffering. 



The signs of lameness manifested during repose are very 

 iniportaut, and sometimes diagnostic. A horse suffering acute 

 pain in one of his legs will, if it be a fore limb, point the foot : 

 by pointing is meant the extension of one limb in advance 

 of its fello\7. I This is done for the purpose of relieving pain, 

 and is performed by thro\\T.ng the flexors into a state of relaxa- 

 tion and removing any tension or pressure from the painful 

 part This pointing does not apply to every lameness in a fore 

 limb, nor particularly to any cause of it, for in some rare in- 

 stances a horse may be lame in both fore feet from chronic, 

 navicular disease, yet never point. 



The pointing of elbow lameness is characteristic, the fore| 

 arm being extended, the knee in a state of flexion, and the footi 

 perhaps upon a level with or posterior to its fellow. In severej 

 shoulder-lameness, the pointing, if it can be called such, isi 

 backwards, the limb relaxed, the knee bent, and the foot pos- 



