532 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



pleasant. It is classed as an hereditary disease. Treatment varies 

 depending on the exact cause, and includes a course of iodide of potas- 

 sium in the early stages of the disease, or, in advanced cases, operating 

 on the larynx. 



Grunting. — When a pass is made at a horse with a stick, or he is 

 otherwise startled, and he grunts, he should be further tested for roar- 

 ing. It is a common thing for a roarer to grunt, although grunters are 

 not always roarers. Such animals should be given a severe test of 

 wind. Pleurisy and rheumatism will cause grunting, which ceases 

 when the animal recovers from the disease. 



Whistling. — This is only a variation of the sound emitted by a 

 roarer. It may be temporary, due to a severe sore throat. 



Sand crack is a splitting of the wall of the hoof, beginning at the 

 coronet, and commonly at the inner or outer quarter in the fore feet 

 or at the toe in hind ones. It is due to imperfection in the growth of 

 horn. It may cause lameness through sensitive parts being nipped by 

 the crack. It constitutes unsoundness. The treatment is rest and 

 cutting a notch transversely below the crack. If there is lameness 

 the crack may be clasped. The shoe may be seated out below the 

 crack, relieving pressure. 



Sidebones are formed by the ossification of the lateral cartilages 

 of the foot, so that they become hard and unjnelding, instead of soft 

 and elastic. (See Fig. 153.) This disease is most common in heavy 

 horses. They are found more often in the front feet than in the hind 

 ones, and the outer cartilage is more often affected than the inner one. 

 In the hind feet they are of little importance, since they cause no lame- 

 ness. In the front feet they may or may not cause lameness, usually 

 the latter; however, they always lessen the natural expansion of the 

 heels and often result in shortening of the stride. When lameness is 

 present, the horse comes out of the stable stiff and sore, but with 

 exercise the gait shows improvement. Sidebones are caused by sprains, 

 bruises, blows, and other injuries; and by high-heeled shoes, high calks, 

 and short, upright pasterns. The size and prominence of a sidebone 

 is not an index to the damage it may produce. Treatment is not of 

 much account. It consists in using cold-water bandages, then blister- 

 ing or firing. Neurotomy (nerving) is often practiced to relieve lame- 

 ness. This is classed as an hereditary unsoundness. It is a serious 

 form of unsoundness, but is not so serious as bone spavin, ringbone, 

 roaring, or blindness. 



Splints are variable-sized bony enlargements on the cannon bone, 

 usually on the inside of the upper two-thirds of the front cannons. The 

 button-like enlargements at the lower end of the splint bones should 

 not be mistaken for splints. Splints occasionally cause lameness; if so, 



