726 EXAMINING- FOR SOUNDNESS. 



that the near shoulder is free from " wasting " and harness-galls. 

 If there be doubt as to the state of the muscles, the two shoulders 

 should be compared with each other. Observe that the near elbow 

 is not " capped;" that the horse is free from girth-gaUs, and is not 

 otherwise chafed. The amount of " wear " shown by the near leg ; 

 any " standing over " at the knee ; or undue uprightness or un- 

 usual obliquity of the pastern should be carefully considered. The 

 knee should be examined for signs of injury; the front of the 

 cannon bone, for sore shins ; the fetlock, for any swelling or undue 

 roundness ; the pastern, for ringbone or split-pastern ; and the 

 front of the coronet, for bony deposit on the upper part of the 

 pedal bone, or for a diseased state of the coronet itself. Going to 

 the back of the leg, see if the animal is free from mallenders ; 

 injury of the check ligaments, back tendons and suspensory liga- 

 ment; splints; marks of ''unnerving" (p. 680), speedy-cutting, or 

 of the use of a speedy-outting boot ; windgalls ; a puffy condition 

 of the fetlock ; marks of " brushing ; " thoroughpin of the fetlock ; 

 sesamoiditis ; sprain of the ligaments at the back of the pastern ; 

 overreaches on the back tendons or heels ; side-bones ; cracked 

 heels ; and grease. Now examine the coronet for quittor, marks 

 of bleeding and firing, recently " sprung " sandcrack, tread, and 

 false-quarter. If marks of firing be present, they will also be, as 

 a rule, on the pastern. Now feel the coronet and hoof tO' see tliat 

 there is no unnatural heat in them, and that no throbbing or un- 

 usual fulness in the blood-vessels of the former can be perceived. 

 In case of doubt, the state of these parts should be considered with 

 reference to that of those of the off fore. Compare both feet, to 

 see that they are of the same size and shape. The wall of the hoof 

 should be looked at for signs of inflammation of the feet, sand- 

 crack, false-quarter, horn tumours, seedy-toe, and for fissure of 

 various kinds. The horn should be sound and strong. Having 

 picked up the foot, see that the heels are not contracted ; the frog 

 free from thrush, and well developed ; the sole concave ; and the 

 ground surface of the foot healthy, free from, wounds and signs of 

 canker. Note if the animal has had the '' seat of corn " recently 

 pared out ; if he is shod in any particular manner which might 

 indicate unsoundness or defective action ; and if his hoofs have 

 been filed with the object of concealing malformation or disease. 

 If we suspect seedy-toe, endeavour to test our supposition by 

 tapping the outside of the hoof with a hammer. The practice of 

 comparing one leg with another should be followed in all cases, 

 especially as regards the existence of sprain, " standing over at the 

 knees," slop's of the pasterns, and size of the feet. The subject of 

 navicular disease has been purposely omitted ; for, as far as I 

 know, it presents no distinctive symptoms ; its presence being 



