EXAMININa THE FEET. 715 



from " wasting " and harness-galls. If there be doubt as to the 

 state of the muscles, the two shoulders should be compared with 

 each other. We should observe tliat the near elbow is not 

 " capped ; " that the horse is free from girth-galls, and is not 

 otherwise chafed. The amount of " wear " shown by the near leg ; 

 any " standing over " at the knee ; or undue uprightness or un- 

 usual obliquity of the pastern should be carefully considered. The 

 knee should be examined for signs of injury; the front of the 

 cannon bone, for sore shins ; the fetlock, for any swelling or undue 

 roundness ; the pastern, for ringbone or split-pastern ; and the front 

 of the coronet, for bony deposit on the upper jDart of the pedal 

 bone, or for a diseased state of the coronet itself. Going to the 

 back of the leg, we may see if the animal is free from mallenders ; 

 injury of the check ligament, back tendons and suspensory liga- 

 ment ; si3lints; marks of " unner^dng " (p. 668), speedy-cutting, or 

 of the use of a speedy-cutting boot ; windgalls ; a jDuffy condition 

 of the fetlock ; marks of " brushing " ; thoroughpin of the fetlock ; 

 sesamoiditis ; sprain of the ligaments at the back of the pastern ; 

 overreaches on the back tendons or heels ; side-bones ; cracked 

 heels ; and grease. We may now examine the coronet for quittor, 

 marks of bleeding and firing, recently " spining " sandcrack, tread, 

 and false-quarter. If marks of firing be present, they will also be, 

 as a rule, on the pastern. We may now feel the coronet and hoof 

 to see that there is no unnatural heat in them, and that no throb- 

 bing or unusual fulness in the blood-vessels of the former can be 

 perceived. In case of doubt, the state of these parts should be 

 considered with reference to that of those of the off fore. We 

 should compare both feet, to see that they are of the same size and 

 shape. The wall of the hoof should be looked at for signs of in- 

 flammation of the feet, sand-crack, false-quarter, horn tumours, 

 seedy-toe, and for fissure of various kinds. The horn should be 

 sound and strong. Having picked up the foot, we should see that 

 the heels are not contracted; the frog free from thrush, and well 

 developed; the sole concave; and the ground surface of the foot 

 healthy, free from wounds and signs of canker. We should note 

 if the animal has had the " seat of corn " recently pared out ; if 

 he is shod in any particular manner which might indicate 

 unsoundness or defective action; and if his hoofs have been filed 

 with the object of concealing malformation or disease. If we 

 suspect seedy toe, we may endeavour to test our supposition by 

 tapping the outside of the hoof with a hammer. The practice 

 of comparing one leg with another, should be followed in all 

 cases, especially as regards the existence of sprain, " standing 

 over at the knees," slope of the pasterns, and size of the feet. 1 

 have here purposely omitted the subject of navicular disease ; for. 



