86 CAUSES OF UNSOUNDNESS. 



Marks left by Blisters, Setons, etc. 



Although often a very difficult matter to detect 

 where a blister has been applied, a little careful 

 examination will often disclose evidence of it. 

 The hair over the previously blistered part is 

 generally darker in colour, and of stronger 

 growth than that of elsewhere. If it has been 

 recently blistered, evidence of this is shown by 

 the scurfy accumulation upon the skin. Setons 

 and rowels always leave a small scar, no matter how 

 trifling. When a part has been fired, more especially 

 in fines, evidence of this remains throughout the 

 animal's life. It is much more difficult to detect 

 point firing, but the chief places to look for evidence 

 of this are below the knee ; along the course of the 

 back tendons and inside the hocks. Although it 

 is not the rule to fire a horse without the 

 existence of some disease, in exceptional instances 

 it is done for the sake of strengthening a part. 

 The mere fact of a buyer discovering evidence 

 of his purchase having been fired in some parti- 

 cular region is not sufficient to enable him to 

 return the animal, unless lameness, etc., arises, 

 attributable to disease in the region of the fired 

 part. 



