115 



legs there is a curious dropping or jerking of the croup, so 

 that we can easily discern that the lameness is in the hind 

 legs. The leg on which an animal " drops " is not the lame 

 one hut its fellow. The nature of the lameness is next to be 

 determined, but as this would lead us into the subject of 

 examination for Soundness, in opposition to Lameness, we 

 shall be obliged to pass on to our consideration of the dif- 

 ferent diseases of the locomotive organs. 



In the treatment of these diseases by unprofessional per- 

 sons there are several important facts not so much as dreamt 

 of by these ignorant and presumptuous men, namely, that 

 symptomatic fever accompanies most of these diseases, in 

 some excessive suppuration, in others secondary haemorr- 

 hage, some of which may end in gangrene of the parts, or 

 Tetanus. 



STRUCTURE OF THE HORSE'S FOOT. 



The anatomical foot of cpiadrupeds (comi)ared with man) 

 extends from the knee (or wrist) of the fore leg (or fore arm) 

 to the toe (or finger end), and from the hock (or heel) to the 

 toe of the hind leg, the three pastern joints corresponding 

 to the three joints of the middle finger. However, in point 

 of adaptation and use, the foot may be considered as em- 

 bracing only those parts within and immediately above the 

 hoof of the horse. Should we compare the anatomy of the 

 extremities of the horse with other animals wc shall find that 

 while the horse has only one finger (or toe) the elephant has 

 five (the same as our own species), the hippopotamus four, 

 the rhinoceros three, the ox-tribe two, the horse one finger (or 

 toe), hence he has received the name of Solipede. In order 

 that the general public and owners of horseflesh may have a 

 better understanding of the structure and function of the 

 different tissues which enter into the composition of this 

 animal's foot, I shall very briefly name the external and 

 internal, or the parts that can be seen without dissection and 

 those that cannot. 



