UNSOUNDNESSES, BLEMISHES, AND VICES 267 



that brings about a thickening in the ligament, tendon, or skin 

 of this region, so as to cause a deviation in the straight line that 

 normally extends from the point of the hock to the fetlock (see 

 Fig. 65). To detect a curb the examiner should view the leg 

 in profile from both sides. A curb is often found in an animal 

 with a tendency toward "sickle hocks" (see Fig. 72). When 

 lameness results from curb use a high-heeled shoe to remove 

 strain from the part. Rubbing the enlargement daily with a 

 flat bone helps to reduce the enlargement. The actual cautery 

 often must be resorted to for removal of the lameness. The 

 presence of a curb must always be regarded seriously. 



STRINGHALT 



Stringhalt is a spasmodic jerking up of one or both hind legs. 

 It is most evident when the horse is walking, turning, or backing. 

 In the first stages the symptoms are slight, but become more 

 noticeable with age. In marked cases the leg is jerked up high 

 and may strike the belly; the downward move is forceful also. 

 Nothing positive is known about its origin. It may usually be 

 cured or greatly remedied by a surgical operation on the lateral 

 extensor tendon. An incision is made over the tendon on the 

 outside of the leg just below the hock, and about 2 inches of the 

 tendon is removed. 



BLINDNESS 



Blindness may be total or partial. In some forms of blindness 

 there are no signs of disease whatsoever. When the normally 

 transparent crystalline lens becomes opaque, the affection is 

 termed cataract. When a foreign body becomes lodged in the 

 eye, the tears stream over the face and the lining of the lids be- 

 comes greatly inflamed. Unless the object is removed promptly, 

 a white spot appears or the entire eye turns white. A simple 

 test for blindness is to place a box about 15 inches high on each 

 side of the driveway. Lead the horse back and forth between them 

 two or three times. Then place a slender pole across the boxes 

 and lead the horse along the same course. If blind he cannot see 

 the pole, so will stumble over it. A blind animal uses its sense of 

 hearing more than normal and turns the head sideways and moves 

 the ears quickly in various directions. These signs are an indi- 



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