THE FORELEG AND SHOULDER. 83 



the hand. When enlargement does exist, it in 

 almost every case constitutes unsoundness. The 

 inside of the fetlock joint should be examined, 

 to see if the horse is a cutter, that is, one who 

 strikes the fetlock Avith the opposite foot, and 

 cuts the skin. Cutting is a natural defect in the 

 animal's conformation or action, and cannot, 

 however objectionable, be called unsoundness. 



Windgalls are little puffy tumours situated 

 directly above, and almost on, the fetlock joint. 

 They are little bags containing a fluid for lubri- 

 cating and preventing friction, between a tendon 

 and two little bones, which it here passes over : 

 and it is an increase of this fluid, commonly 

 called joint oil, which distends the containing 

 bag, and constitutes windgalls. Few horses 

 are without them, and they do not constitute 

 unsoundness ; but they show that the animal 

 has done a good deal of work. 



The Fetlock is sometimes subjected to an 

 operation, which may, and has before now, aided 

 the roguish seller, and cheated the purchaser. 

 The operation is called unnerving, and is per- 

 formed, not by a dealer, but by a veterinarian, for 

 the purpose of destroying sensation in the foot of 

 an incurably lame horse. It consists in making an 



