482 SPECIES OF LAMENESS. [BOOK III. 



ness in a greater or less degree, which may be tem- 

 porary only, or become permanent, according to 

 circumstances. If the dryness and consequent ad- 

 hesion be trivial, as happens after hard work and 

 a night's rest, the horse, upon getting warm, loses 

 the lameness this deficiency has occasioned, for 

 the secretion has been thereby renewed, and the 

 lubrication is now effected sufficiently; but the 

 horse falls lame again next day, probably, and if 

 he cannot be allowed rest, 'tis 7 to 1 that he be- 

 comes permanently lame. In this respect the 

 French beat us hollow (as just before remarked 

 at page 471), though they do wot prof ess humanity 

 so sensitively as the English ; and even the Arabs, 

 though robbers by profession, by habit, and incli- 

 nation, are too sensible of what is due to a faithful 

 animal in distress, to travel on lame horses. 



Symptoms* — That sort of strain which consists 

 of relaxation of the back sinew shows itself by 

 the horse going low upon his pasterns, in conse- 

 quence of its " carrying high," or being trotted 

 constantly in harness. Occasional lameness some- 

 times ensues in that fore foot which heats, or has 

 the lead at setting out — generally the off one ; in- 

 flammation of the whole foot may be felt by com- 

 parison with the heat of its fellow, which is aptly 

 enough termed " fever of the foot" by the old far- 

 riers. This is a very puzzling kind of lameness, 

 no other symptom than those presenting itself for 

 us to ascertain the exact cause ; and of course the 

 less observant persons are very likely to apply the 



