EXAMINATION FOR PURCHASE 35 



that most barbarous stable discipline, which I too often 

 witnessed in days of yore, but which, I hope, does not in 

 the present day — at least, not in so great a degree or so 

 usually — disgrace the conduct of our dealers. I refer to the 

 daily, too probably almost hourly, attendance of a fellow 

 with a whip, who flogs and cuts the horses up and down in 

 their stalls, causing them to jump and fly about as if mad, 

 keeping them in such a constant state of miserable appre- 

 hension, that they dread the approach of any human being. 

 The motive of this was to render them active, ready, and 

 lively on a show, and to hide defects ; and, as an exaggeia- 

 tion of this monstrous barbarity, the unfortunate cripples 

 had even an additional share of this discipline, being 

 whipped and beat most cruelly for putting out, in order to 

 ease, a crippled limb." 



The Feet and Legs. — The first thing to be observed is, 

 that when standing evenly the weic^ht is thrown equally 

 on both feet. If there be any complaint in the fore feet 

 one will probably be " pointed," that is, extended before the 

 other, or he will frequently alter the position of them, 

 taking one up and setting the other down ; or the hind legs 

 will be brought under the body to relieve the fore feet of 

 some portion of the weight. Any of these symptoms will 

 direct your attention to the feet when you see him out. 



Respiration. — To judge of his respiration it is necessary 

 to be acquainted with the indications of health. Observe 

 if the flank alternately rises and falls with regularity. 

 In health the respiration of the horse is from four to eight 

 per minute, average six in the daytime ; during sleep it 

 is seldom more than four. If quicker than ordinary, it 

 betokens present fever or defective lungs. Should it arise 

 from present fever, other symptoms will be developed, 

 such as increased pulse, heat of mouth, and dulness, while 

 the delicate pink appearance which the membrane covering 

 the partition of the nostrils assumes in health will be 

 increased in colour. But if none of these symptoms of 

 ill-health are present, and yet the horse heaves at the flank 

 more than ordinary, if the weather be moderate, and the 

 stable not oppressively hot, it is probable such a horse is 

 thick-winded. 



When inspiration appears to be performed readily and 

 quickly, as in health, by a single action, but expiration 

 with difficulty by an irregular and prolonged movement, 



