LAMENESS. 8335 
quently, when the sound hoof comes to the ground, the extra burden 
rests upon it; the head and body perceptibly drop, and the footfall emits 
an emphatic sound, the accent of which is increased by the all but in- 
audible tread of the opposite member. 
The indication, however, is in some measure reversed when the lame- 
ness is situated behind. The movements of the head no longer accom- 
pany those of the fore legs; for, al- 
though the head be not steady, it 
evidently is not influenced by the for- 
ward members. If, however, the mo- 
tion be closely observed, it will be 
found to be regulated by the move- 
ments of the posterior extremities, 
only with adifference. When the sound 
hind limb rests upon the earth, the 
head is raised ) but the sinking or ele- A HORSE, BEING LAME IN ONE HIND FOOT, RESTS 
vation of the whole body is never so aa ake ae acca Ne era a a 
marked as it is in the previous case 
of anterior injury. The movements characteristic of posterior lameness 
are, however, well shown in the haunches. When the sound limb reaches 
the ground, the hind portion of the body obviously drops upon that side; 
when the painful member is caught up, that side of the haunch on which 
resides the disabled foot is also jerked upward. 
There are other sorts of lameness to be described. A horse is some- 
times returned by the smith lame allround. The gait is peculiar, because 
it is caused by the shoes being too small or tight. It has been likened 
to skating ; and the author thinks the term so applicable that he has no 
desire to change it. There can, however, be then no difficulty in detect- 
ing the cause of the affliction. The horse was, a short time before, sent 
to the forge a sound animal, and it has been returned a positive cripple. 
It is lamentable to remark the number of horses which are driven 
through the streets of London in a disabled condition. People appear 
to be without feelings or recognitions when the sufferings of horse-flesh 
are before them. An animal with scarcely a sound limb, or else “hop- 
ping lame,” may frequently be seen, in broad daylight, attached to some 
gentleman’s carriage or tradesman’s cart, to a hired vehicle or a coster- 
monger’s “all sorts.” From the highest to the lowest, all are equally 
disgraced ; the toil of a life seems incapable of purchasing a day’s com- 
miseration. A little forbearance might be a profitable investment in 
these cases; but no person seems able to keep a horse and to allow the 
animal a day of rest. So long as it can crawl, so long must patience 
work |! 
