704 SOUNDNESS. 



Villitls (p. 205). 



Weed{^ 506). 



Whistling (p. 380), or other abnormal sounds, which indicate 

 diminution of the calibre of the air passages. 



Withers, fistulous (p. 106.). 



Worm in the eye (p. 344). — After the removal by operation, or 

 disappearance of the " worm," the eye may recover its soundness ; 

 provided, if the cornea has been punctured, that the resuhing scar does 

 not interfeie with the sight. 



Defects which are Not Necessarily Unsoundness. 



The following defects, unless when specially excepted, may or may 

 not be unsoundness, according to circumstances ; such as their nature 

 and position, the age of the animal, and the description of the work 

 demanded of it. 



Broken knees (p. 97). 



Brushing (pp. 87 and 90). 



Capped hock (p. 333) ''is not an unsoundness if not causing 

 lameness, and arises generally from the horse si^riking the point of his 

 hock against some hard substance. It very often indicates a kicker 

 either in harness or in the stable, is unsightly when large, and 

 depreciates the value of the animal" (^WiViams). The enlargement, 

 so as not to be an unsoundness, should be small, and should present no 

 symptoms, whatsoever, of inflammation. Such a capped hock never 

 interferes with the usefulness of a horse. 



Chapped heels. — See " Cracked Heels " (p. 705). 



Contraction oj the foot. — The term, "contracted foot," is applied to 

 a hoof which is narrower than natural, from side to side, in comparison 

 to its length. If the contraction is at the heels, the horse is said to 

 have " contracted heels." If the foot is of the proper form, but is 

 smaller than its fellow, the animal has what is usually called " odd " 

 feet. If both feet are smaller than what is generally met with in 

 horses of the size of the animal in question, the term " small," instead 

 of " contracted," should he used with reference to them. A horse 

 may have naturally narrow feet — like those of a mule— which should 

 not be regarded as a sign of unsoundness ; provided always, that the 

 animal goes free and level, and shows no signs of disease. The same 

 Trmark will apply to naturally small feet which are of the same size. 

 Contraction of the foot, as a diseased condition, is often the result 

 of navicular disease, which almost always causes the horse to go " upon 

 his toe," and consequently throws the structures in rear more or less 

 out of work. Formerly, contraction was erroneously looked upon as a 



