THE HORSE 85 



a day or two after one twenty-mile journey on the 

 road, although they will be able to work regularly 

 on the land day after day without discomfort. 



It is sometimes difficult to detect side-bone in 

 its very early stages, as the horse may not be per- 

 manently lame, but may onl}^ '' drop " a little once 

 or twice when first moved after a rest. As al- 

 ready stated, the place to search for incipient dis- 

 ease is on the outsides of the fore feet, and if the 

 cartilages seem to have in the slightest degree lost 

 their natural elasticity and smoothness, the horse 

 should be refused. The ossification usually begins 

 as a small spot on some part of the cartilage, and 

 from thence spreads in every direction until the 

 enthe cartilage is changed into a rough, bony 

 mass, lacking the smoothness and sharp definition 

 of true bone. 



In bringing these remarks on a few of the com- 

 mon diseases of the legs to a close, it must be 

 added that they are intended rather as a guide to 

 the buyer than as a treatise from the veterinary 

 point of view. 



Almost every horse which is offered at an ap- 

 parently fair, as opposed to a fancy price, '' has 

 something." The question usually is, Will that 

 " somethiDg " invalid him if he is -put to certain 



