EXAMINATION FOR UXSOUNDXESS 55 



the coronary band or the hoof head to about the middle of 

 the hoof in cases of ordinary severity. Looking at the bot- 

 tom of the foot there should be no cracks running from 

 the bars to the top of the hoof. Large cracks here are very 

 common owing to the general practice of cutting out the 

 heels in shoeing. 



100. Corns. These are generally located in the corner 

 of the heels and their presence may be more or less indi- 

 cated by the way a horse will shrink when the sole of the 

 foot is hit in that region with the handle of a knife. 



101. Thrush and Scratches. Thrush is a diseased con- 

 dition of the foot in the region of the frog and invariably 

 makes its presence known by the disagreeable odor that 

 comes from it. Scratches occur in the back part of the 

 pastern, and, while not properly an unsoundness, they 

 cause the animal affected a great deal of pain and annoy- 

 ance. It is a condition due to the filthiness of this part 

 and will generally disappear before cleanliness and anti- 

 septic lotions. 



102. Locating Lameness. In locating lameness in the 

 leg, it should be borne in mind that it is the sound limb 

 that the horse puts down with the most confidence and 

 when the ailing leg comes to the ground an effort to ease 

 it is made by throwing the head up. When a horse shows 

 lameness in the front legs, if the trouble is in the shoulder 

 the leg will usually be flexed at the knee when standing at 

 ease; but when the sprain or lameness is below the knee 

 the affected limb will be extended. When sore on both 

 front feet they will be extended as far as convenient. 



103. Thoroughpin. In detecting diseases in the region 

 of the hock or in fact in any other part, it is absolutely 

 necessary to first know the outlines of the perfect struc- 

 ture. This has special application to the diseases of this 

 region ; for there are many that may show but a very slight 

 variation from the normal condition ^nd thoroughpin is 

 one of these. Thoroughpin is located between the tendon 

 of the hind leg and the bone and appears just above the 



