DETECTION OF THE LAME LEG. 11 



lowered. Backiug is difficult, and it is almost impossible to 

 keep the animal at a trot when there is lameness in more 

 than one leg at a time. 



Horses lame in. both fore or hind legs, show a wabbling 

 gait behind, often mistaken for lameness originating in the 

 lumbar region ; this peculiar motion is simply due to the 

 fact that the hind legs are unduly advanced under the body 

 for their own relief or that of the fore-legs. 



Lameness in two legs of the same side causes a see- 

 sawing of the head and haunch, due to the jerking up of the 

 head, as the lame fore-leg comes down, and dropping of the 

 haunch as the sound hind-leg touches the ground. Pacers, 

 of course, form an exception to this rule. If lame in two 

 legs of the same side, the body drops when the sound legs 

 are planted and rises when the lame legs come to the 

 ground. 



Animals lame diagonally, for instance, in the right fore- 

 leg and left hind-leg, show a rising of the body as the lame 

 legs are put to the ground, whereas the head and haunch 

 drop as the left fore and right hind leg (the sound ones) 

 touch the ground. 



Close attention is to be paid to the animal's action as he 

 turns while being trotted to and from the observer, as at 

 this moment, — that is, while he turns, — any hitch becomes 

 visible, as, for instance, in spavin or stringhalt lameness. 



Sometimes lameness is so slight, and that only for a 

 little while after leaving the stable, that the detection of the 

 lame leg is quite impossible. Under these circumstances it 

 is advisable to drive the animal briskly three or four miles, 

 rest him one half hour, and then proceed with the 

 examination. This treatment often materially increases 

 lameness and the lame leg becomes more apparent. 



