30 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
and elevating his chin above our head: because, in 
the first place, both shoulders may be atrophied ; and 
further, we so very frequently find the shoulder of the 
leading leg rather larger than its fellow. This is a part 
of the examination in which you cannot be too careful. 
’ The injury leading to the affection may be inflicted one 
week, and the lameness and stiffness, treated by rest, 
hot fomentations, and physic, may have so far been 
overcome the next, that physical signs are absent, and 
the lameness only is to be detected; and this may be 
so slight that an expert dealer’s man, in trotting the 
horse for you, may effectually conceal it. I cannot too 
much impress upon you the necessity of being on your 
‘guard in these slight cases; for in not a few instances 
do they become serious within the time that a horse, 
found to be unsound, may be returned. I remember 
passing a three-year-old bay carriage. horse, that became 
Jame from this cause soon afterwards. I detected no 
difference in the two shoulders at the time; not that 
I was very closely looking for any, but when he had. 
been driven alongside another horse fcr three weeks or 
less, he became decidedly lame. The gentleman took 
him to an elderly veterinarian in whose district my client 
happened to be staying for a time, when atrophied 
shoulder was made out, and an opinion given that it 
was of some standing. Now, there happened to be a 
distinct history of accident in this case. The coachman, 
a hard driver, in going down a hill, saw the horse half 
fall on what afterwards became his lame side ; recovering 
