32 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



to the seller." True, but not to the extent you suppose. 

 A close and intelligent examination of the postures, 

 countenance, eye, nostril, ear, movements, and carriage of 

 the animal, will tell you more than you would believe 

 until you try such a thoughtful inspection. 



The energetic horse has generally a large eye, is attentive 

 to what is going on about him, fine muzzle, large nostrils, 

 small ears, thin skin, and clean limbs ; he rarely carries 

 much flesh ; and lastly, it has been frequently observed 

 that many energetic horses have thin manes and tails. 



The sluggard has usually a small, sunken eye, in a large, 

 heavy head ; the ears are large or sloping, and seldom 

 move ; the nostrils are almost always small, muzzle fleshy, 

 ribs flat, belly pendent, and the tail drooping, and not 

 infrequently very full. 



A small horse is capable of greater exertion than a large 

 one. The vital principle seems to act with increased 

 activity in small animals ; in one it is difiused, and in the 

 other concentrated. Again, like us, some have better 

 constitutions than others ; in one, the texture of the organs 

 may be compact, and in another weak and relaxed. Horses 

 with thick skins are more predisposed to attacks of grease 

 and canker. In proportion as the legs are hairy, the skin 

 is thick and spongy, feeble in vital energy, and incapable 

 of bearing changes of temperature. 



With these preliminary remarks we will proceed to the 



EXAMINATION FOR PURCHASE. 



Unless proper precaution is used in the examination of 

 horses for purchase, the law will not protect a man from 

 the consequences of his own neglect ; and it has been held 

 that a warranty against apparent defects is bad in law, 

 the purchaser being expected not only to possess ordinary 

 skill, but to exhibit ordinary caution. 



A defective horse is dear at any price ; yet though the 

 buyer be ever so good a judge, and his inspection ever so 

 minute, he must take some things on trust. A perfect 

 knowledge can only be obtained on trial, which should 

 always be taken if possible, but which is not, under many 

 circumstances, to be had. For instance, some horses, when 

 turned six or seven years old, are subject to a dry, chronic 

 cough, which comes on at uncertain times, perhaps twice 



