To Diagnose Lameness 91 
should be removed, the nails examined for signs of 
blood or pus, and the bottom of the foot cleaned and 
examined for punctures or bruises. 
In mauipulating to detect soreness, one must not be 
misled by the animal’s flinching when the muscles of 
the shoulder are firmly pressed. Horses are likely to 
flinch from pressure here. In feeling for soreness or 
heat in a part, it is always well to study and compare 
the corresponding leg. In examining the foot, a small 
hammer is excellent with which to tap the different 
parts of the hoof to induce flinching. To determine 
heat in a part, aside from the touch, the corresponding 
parts of each leg are wet and note is made of the one 
drying first. In cases of suspected foot lameness, 
the animal may be driven, the degree of lameness 
noted, and a five per cent solution of cocaine may then 
be injected with a hypodermic syringe over the nerves 
on either side of the tendon, in the hollow just above 
and back of the foot. If the lameness is in the lower 
and back part of the foot, it will be stopped or greatly 
lessened temporarily. 
SWEENEY, SHOULDER LAMENESS 
While shoulder lameness is rare, one form that is 
met with, particularly in young horses, is called sweeney. 
It is a rapid wasting away of certain muscles on the 
outside of the shoulder-blade. 
Sweeney is caused by severe pulling, especially in 
young horses when first put at hard work, such as 
plowing. The blood vessels or nerves of the affected 
