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The bottom of the hind-foot should be examined to see that it 

 is not affected with canker or thrushes. 



Too much caution cannot be observed in examining the eye. 

 After seven years of age the eye of the horse seldom becomes dis- 

 eased, except from injury, to which all ages are equally liable. From 

 five to six years is the age most liable to eye-disease, and next from 

 four to five, so in purchasing a five-year old horse, caution on this 

 point is specially necessary. The most favourable situation for viewing 

 the eye is at the stable door, or under a shed, for where too much 

 light falls on the eye so much is reflected by its surface, or cornea, 

 that it is difficult to see the internal parts. 



If there be a perceptible difference between the eyes, if they 

 appear watery, cloudy, or dull, if the lids be more closed than is 

 natural, or if the inner corner of the eye-lid appears puckered up, 

 there is strong reason for suspicion that the sight is imperfect, and the 

 horse unsound on this point. The pupil, or dark blueish oblong spot 

 in the centre of each eye, should be closely and carefully scrutinized, 

 and if any difference is perceived in their size, if they appear cloudy, or 

 if white specks are seen in them, disease is indicated. An important 

 point is to ascertain that both eyes appear exactly alike, that they 

 become (alike) smaller when exposed to a strong light, and (alike) 

 larger when in the shade. The seller is generally ready to affirm 

 that any blemish arises from some external cause, as a blow, a bite, 

 or some hayseed or dust getting into the eye, but this should not 

 be relied on, for in most cases any disease in a horse's eye arises 

 from internal causes. 



Some horses possess greater freedom in breathing than others, 

 and it is easy to understand that a deep, wide chest, short neck, wide 

 gullet, and large open nostril, betoken superior wind. There is no 

 difficulty in discovering when a horse is thoroughly broken-winded ; 

 the laborious breathing or working of the flanks, and the short 

 asthmatic cough exhibited under any violent exertion, are too evident ; 

 but between this state and perfect health there are many stages of the 

 disorder, and these are most difficult of detection. There are two 

 kinds of disease affecting the ^wiud : one having its seat in the 



