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balance or controling force in natural and healthy action, is 

 more or less overcome or destroyed altogether in a condition of 

 disease, and this apparently spasmodic action becomes invol- 

 untary and permanent. It is thence inferred, that this control- 

 ing force has its origin in the substance of the muscles that 

 antagonize the muscles that lift and extend the foot. These 

 are the gastrocnemii muscles whose powerful tendon passes 

 over the point of the hock. 



Thence, it is inferred that weakness or partial paralysis of 

 these latter muscles, or any portion of them, would allow of 

 that jerking action of the joint to go partially or wholly unan- 

 tagonized, or unregulated. The peculiar jerk which indicates 

 Stringhalt is involuntary in its character, and there is no evi- 

 dence of pain to the animal or uneasy motion to the rider. It 

 is not a lameness therefore which is a consequence of pain. 

 Professor Spooner has known cases in which after a severe run 

 with the hounds, the symptoms have been more severe for a 

 time. In most cases Stringhalt comes on gradually, but it does 

 sometimes make its appearance suddenly. 



DOES STRINGHALT CONSTITUTE UNSOUNDNESS ? 



Undoubtedly, it is a disease, and therefore unsoundness. Is it 

 due to an exalted action of nerve force, or to the opposite con- 

 dition ? In other words, is it due to spasm or paralysis ? Mr. 

 Spooner at one time believed it to be due to the former cause, 

 but he now ascribes it to the latter. 



PROFESSOR SPOONER'S HYPOTHESIS. 



The following is the hypothesis upon which his later view is 

 based. Muscular tissues possess a capacity for storing nerve- 

 force. During rest these tissues accumulate this force which 

 forms a reserve supply for extraordinary occasions of speed, 

 etc. That muscular tissues are not immediately deprived of 

 the power to act, even when the main supply is as it were cut 

 off. This is considered proved by the muscular contractions 

 which are observable after death, and also by the muscular 



