COMPAEATIVE UNSOUNDNESS. 715 



Withers, fistulous (p. 106). 



Worm in the eye (p. 342). — After the removal by operation, or 

 disappearance of the " worm," the eye may recover its soundness ; 

 provided, if the cornea has been punctured, that the resulting soar 

 does not interfere with the sight. 



Defects which are not Necessarily Unsoundness. 



The following defects, unless when specially excepted, may or 

 may not be unsoundness, according to circumstances ; such as their 

 nature and position, the age of the animal, and the description of 

 the work demanded of it. 



Broken knees (p. 94). 



Brushing (pp. 87 and 90). 



Capped hock (p. 331) is not an unsoundness if not causing lame- 

 ness, and arises generally from the horse striking the point of his 

 hock against some hard substsfnce. It very often indicates a 

 kicker either in harness or in the stable, is unsightly when large, 

 and depreciates the value of the animal. The enlargement, so as 

 not to be an unsoundness, should be small, and should present no 

 symptoms, whatsoever, of inflammation. Such a capped hock 

 never interferes with the usefulness of a horse. 



Chapped heels. — See " Cracked Heels '' (p. 716). 



Contraction of the foot. — The term, " contracted foot," is 

 applied to a hoof which is narrower than natural, from side to 

 side, in comparison to its length. If the contraction is at the 

 heels, the horsfe is said to have " contracted heels." If- the foot 

 is of the proper form, but is smaller than its fellow, the animal 

 has what is usually called " odd " feet. If both feet are smaller 

 than what is generally met with in horses of the size of the animal 

 in question, the term " small," instead of " contracted," should be 

 used with reference to them. A horse may have naturally narrow 

 feet — ^like those of a mule — which should not be regarded as a sign 

 of unsoundness ; provided always, that the animal goes free and 

 level, and shows no signs of disease. The same remark will apply 

 to naturally small feet which are of the same size. Contraction of 

 the foot, as a diseased condition, is often the result of navicular 

 disease, which almost always causes the horse to go " upon his toe," 

 and consequently throws the structures in rear more or less out of 

 work. Formerly, contraction was erroneously looked upon as a 

 cause, and not as a result of imsoundness. " Contracted heels " 

 are chiefly brought on by the horse going on his toe; by allowing 

 the heels to grow too long; by improper shoeing; and by the 

 practice of cutting away the bars and frog. We often find thrush 

 associated with contracted heels. A veterinary surgeon would be 



