THE HOESE 67 



whenever opportunity occurs, in harness or other- 

 wise, and if he does so it is a sm^e indication that 

 tliere is a sense of discomfort, which will probably 

 ultimately manifest itself. 



The older the damage the less knob-like and the 

 more diffuse and spread-out is a curb, so that from 

 its shape alone it is possible for the expert to esti- 

 mate whether it is of long standing. 



It is possible, of course, for a horse to get a 

 swelling in the position of a curb from kicking in 

 harness, or from a blow. When a buyer is assured 

 that the defect is due to some such cause, it is 

 extremely difficult for him to prove to his own 

 satisfaction that the injury is in reality incipient 

 curb ; at the same time, the latter is deep-seated, 

 and feels quite different to the superficial swelling 

 of a bruise. 



Curb is an unsoundness which is as difficult to 

 hide from the initiated as broken knees, hence it 

 is waste of time to try and make a cure which 

 leaves no telltale scar. In very bad cases the 

 prmiitive method of filing proves efficacious, be- 

 cause the burning of the skin causes it to contract 

 and hence act as a more or less efficient brace to 

 the weakened part. In slight cases, when heat 

 and lameness are the only indications that sona^- 



