30 nOKSE-OW^TER's GUIDE. 



eyelid betray a weak sight. Periodical inflammation of the eyes 

 may be recognized by the peculiar position of the inside corner of 

 the eye, continuous slight flow of tears, hairless shiny spots below 

 the eyes, and shunning the light. 



Next in order, comes the examination of the mouth. Find out 

 the age, but be not deceived by artilicially-marked teeth. Often 

 the dealer likes his horse .to seem older than he really is, which he 

 effects by drawing two milk-teeth, thus making the horse appear 

 one year older. If the fore and middle teeth appear badly woni, 

 it indicates a crib-biter. Knots on the lips, as large or larger than 

 peas, betray fiircy ; also knots and stringy swellings on the throat, 

 the ribs, and the inner part of the hind-leg. The nose and throat 

 deserve careful looking into. A greenish yellow or whitish flow, 

 from one or both nostrils, more or less swelling of the glands of 

 the throat, and a coiigh, with expectoration of i^hlegm, shows the 

 strangles. Suppuration of the glands of the throat results from the 

 same cause, and are not dangerous. A sticky, ash-grey flow fi'om 

 the nose, and milk-white membrane, with a hard, movable, and almost 

 painless appearance of the glands of the throat, are bad signs ; but 

 if, at the same time, there are ulcers on the inside partition of the 

 nose, then it is a complete case of glanders. 



Dishonest dealers clean nose and nostrils, put oil or fat inside, 

 to produce an easy flow, and prevent the hardening of the same. 

 They also employ caustic to produce a healthy appearance of the 

 glands. 



The examination of the horse, out of the stable, should be both in a 

 state of repose and action. A healthy, lively animal breathes, on 

 coming into the air, easily, and with open nostrils; while a wind- 

 broken horse breathes with widely-extended ones, making a singular 

 motion with the same. Horses thus affected are exercised before 

 the sale, which improves their breathing. Dropping or hanging the 

 lower lip, is a sign of prostration. Mettlesome horses are apt to 

 hang their tongues out. A touch Avith a hot iron is the rogue's cure 

 of this fault. 



After having carefully examined ears, gullet, crest, the posture of 

 the head and neck, the mane, chest, withers, shoulders, fore-ann, 

 knee, shank, pastern and hoof, lift his fore-foot, to look at the sole, 

 and also to find out whether the horse can be shod ; and proceed 

 likewise with his hind-legs. Look also at the spots where the ani- 

 mal might have been bled, or had application of an issue, on head, 

 chest, belly, and throat. 



