SEATS OF DISEASE. 499 



knees, or any other blemished part, where the in- 

 jury has been extensive ; but, in the former case, a 

 minute inspection is necessary, as sometimes means 

 are taken to colour the injured part on which the 

 hair has been destroyed, and thereby make it so 

 nearly to resemble nature as to be rather difficult 

 of detection. Broken knees are no detriment to a 

 horse, provided the action of the joint be free, and 

 consequently many broken kneed horses, as hun- 

 ters, sell for large sums. The author himself sold 

 one, thus blemished, for two hundred and fifty 

 guineas. 



The examination of " the shank for speedy cut, 

 splent, and strain," is an easy task, as such evils 

 are self-apparent ; but the detection of incipient 

 ring-bone is not within the ken of the inexperienced. 

 Should any fulness appear round the coronet, 

 (" caveat emptor^'') let a veterinary surgeon be 

 called to give his opinion on it, for there are few 

 diseases more uncertain of cure than ring-bone. 



"The Foot" is now so generally understood, 

 that it may be needless to say more than to re- 

 mind the buyer of the proverb, " No foot, no horse." 

 " The hock" is the most complicated, therefore 

 most difficult joint for the uninitiated to form a 

 judgment upon. It is not in every person's power 

 to detect the absolute presence of disease in this 

 part, still more so to foretell the probability of it 

 in future ; but there is a certain conformation of 

 this joint which almost ensures disease, and conse- 

 quently it should be most minutely examined as to 

 its shape, substance, &c. 



