20 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
it is a slipshod proceeding, born of the certainty which 
accompanies ignorance: fostered by idleness or indiffe- 
rence; and ending in either a lucky “ fluke,” a lawsuit, 
or professional disgrace. It consists in handling the 
most important points, and seeing the rest without the 
aid of touch. 
The first method is the one I adopt; relying, as I 
do, on the superiority of automatic movements over 
movements under the direction of the wl. The second 
method involves going through a set of movements, 
then repeating the same movements in reverse order. 
This we should avoid, if we wish to perform automa- 
tically. As examples of the superiority of automatic 
movements over those directed by the we//, I would 
advise you to go up or down a familiar flight of steps, 
thinking at each step how to advance your foot for 
the next; or take an example without the trouble, 
of experiment, and look at those beautiful products) 
of automatic movements — the honeycomb or the 
spiders web. Such being the case, then, after the 
movements are perfected by repetition, your examina- 
tion will be none the less perfect if your thoughts are| 
not immediately dwelling upon each successive step. 
Begin your examination by looking at the opening 
of the nostril, making a speculum of the thumb 
and index finger of the left hand, and observe the 
Schneiderian membrane. The nostrils are liable to 
accidents, such as being torn by projecting nails. I 
saw one the other day so affected. <A slough had: 
