4 DETECTION OF LAMENESS. 



only by the toe, and to ''round" the fetlock joint. In some rare 

 cases he will stand " level." 



Lameness is often manifested by the horse frequently shifting 

 his feet when standing. 



" The pointing of elbow lameness is characteristic, the fore arm 

 being extended, the knee in a state of flexion, and the foot perhaps 

 on a level with, or posterior to its fellow. In severe shoulder lame- 

 ness, the pointing, if it can be called such, is backwards, the limb 

 relaxed, knee bent, and the foot posterior to its fellow ; sometimes 

 the toe only touches the ground j the whole limb semi-jDendulous, 

 consequently upon the inability of the muscles to elevate and bring 

 it forward without pain " (Williams). 



In acute laminitis, when the disease is in the fore feet, the horse 

 advances them, so as to relieve their toes of pressure, and to throw 

 the weight of the body on the hind limbs. When in the hind feet, 

 he draws back his fore feet, and advances his hind feet with a 

 similar object. 



Animals affected with navicular disease, often acquire the habit 

 of lying down a great deal in their stalls. 



SUITABILITY OF THE TROT AS A PACE AT WHICH TO 

 DETECT LAMENESS.— In the walk, slow trot, and amble, each fore 

 limb and each hind limb bears normally the same weight as its 

 respective fellow ; but in the canter and gallop more weight is 

 thrown on the leading fore leg and the opposite hind leg, than on 

 their respective fellows. Hence, a just comparison between the 

 respective actions of the two fore legs or the two hind ones can be 

 easier made at the walk, slow trot, or amble, than at the canter 

 or gallop. As the amble is an artificial pace which few horses 

 will adopt without special training, we need not consider it here. 

 In most cases, the trot is more suitable for detecting lameness than 

 the walk; for it is a diagonal pace of two time (near fore and oil' 

 hind, and off fore and near hind) ; the walk being one of four time. 

 Hence, when the lame leg comes down on the ground at the walk, 

 it has the support of two other legs ; but only of one other leg (its 

 diagonal fellow) at the trot ; and consequently more weight falls on 

 the lame leg at the latter pace, than at the former. If a horse 

 which is lame in a fore or hind leg, is trotted, he will favour the 

 unsound limb at the expense of its sound diagonal fellow. Thus, if 

 lame in the near hind, he will put more weight on the off fore than 

 on the near fore, and will consequently appear to be also lame on 

 the near fore. The reverse of this, but to a less extent, will occur 

 Avhen the lameness is in front. Such cases of so-called " cross lame- 

 ness " are more apparent when the lameness is behind than when 

 it is in front, because the fore limbs exhibit lameness in a more 



