102 CAUSES OF UNSOUNDNESS. 



lameness. One or both fore-feet may be affected, 

 and the cartilages on the inner or the outer side 

 the seat of the disease. Speaking professionally, 

 there should be no trouble in deciding as to whether 

 a horse has, or has not, side-bone, and when the 

 buyer, or seller of a horse has any doubt as to whether 

 the animal is affected or not, he can easily clear 

 the matter up by consulting his veterinary surgeon. 

 A distinction must be made between what would 

 be termed the incipient stage of side-bone, and the 

 full development of the latter. In the former, the 

 cartilage either at the inner or the outer side feels 

 indurated, and has only lost part of its elasticity. 

 It is more prominent than normally, but even in 

 this stage, the writer believes that it is not un- 

 commonly a cause of lameness. The question arises. 

 Does an indurated lateral cartilage constitute un- 

 soundness, and must it be looked upon as the 

 beginning of side-bone ? In both cases the author 

 would answer in the affirmative. But a good deal 

 of trouble may possibly arise if a purchaser finds 

 that he has got a horse with one of the lateral 

 cartilages in this condition, the animal going lame, 

 and the vendor having given a general warranty 

 with it. It may be asked, How long does it take 

 for side-bone to form ? To which no positive 



