38 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



foot is of different temperature, active disease is going on ; 

 if an old standing complaint, the feet will be found of 

 different size, and possibly the muscles of the arm and 

 shoulder diminished in volume. 



The purchaser should take his position in front 

 of the horse, and examine his fore legs — that they 

 are in proper position ; that there is no weakness 

 in the pasterns, or enlargement of the fetlocks ; and 

 that the feet are of the same size, and stand square 

 to the front. In brief, the fore legs should descend 

 in a straight line from the bottom of the shoulder, 

 i.e., in a lateral view ; but Vvdien seen in front to incline 

 gently inwards. If the elbow firojects directly backwards, 

 and the toe points with precision forwards, we may 

 rest satisfied that the horse is not twisted in his fore legs. 

 Turning the toe in or out, in standing, is apt to be accom- 

 panied with distortion or deformity of the limb ; this 

 circumstance, therefore, is seldom seen without materially 

 lessening the value of a horse. Of the two faults, turning 

 them out is the greater ; for the pointing inward is seldom 

 carried to extreme. A good arm is broad and thick ; long, 

 when compared to the leg, and marked exteriorly by 

 muscular prominences ; the elbow cannot project too far 

 back, and the plumper the muscle immediately above it, 

 the greater may we conclude to be the animal's powers. 



General Health. — We may judge of the general state of 

 the animal's health by his breathing condition, the bright- 

 ness of his eye, the colour of the membrane lining the lid, 

 and that of the membrane lining the nostril, which in 

 health is of a pale pink. If it is a rosy red, there is excite- 

 ment of the system; and if it is pale, approaching to 

 white, it is a sign of debility. 



Each nostril should be alternately closed by the hand, 

 to ascertain that the air passages are not obstructed by 

 polypus, or enlargement of the turbinated bones. 



JSfasal Discharge, Glandei^s.— Should there be any undue 

 discharge from the nostrils, you will probably be told it 

 proceeds from slight cold ; in that case, an accelerated 

 pulse and affection of the eyes are usually present. Never- 

 theless, as a precautionary measure, the branches of the 

 under-jaw should be felt for enlargement of the glands ; if, 

 although enlarged, they are movable and tender, it is 

 probably nothing more than a catarrhal affection. And 



