UNSOUNDNESSES, BLEMISHES, AND VICES 269 



causes are various and numerous irritating agents. Recent 

 experiments go to show that cancers have an infectious origin 

 and can be transplanted in animals of the same species. Cancers 

 occur most frequently on the head and penis of the horse. A 

 diagnosis is made by sectioning and staining pieces of the tissue, 

 or by applying the Abderhalden test to the blood-serum of the 

 patient. Treatment consists in complete excision, but should be 

 early and every trace of the disease removed. If neglected, 

 cancers spread like a fire and get beyond control. As with fire, 

 however, anything less than complete extinguishment may stir 

 up sparks which may result in increased fury. 



COMMON BLEMISHES 



A blemish is any abnormal mark in either the skin or under- 

 lying structures. Examples are scars and thickenings. A 

 blemish in itself is not an unsoundness. However, a blemish 

 may be the sign of a previous unsoundness, or one that will 

 appear later. In some cases blemishes are the only noticeable 

 guides to serious unsoundnesses. 



Interfering wounds are a good example of blemishes that may 

 result in serious unsoundness unless given proper treatment and 

 the animal shod to prevent further "brushing." 



Scars from operations for bad teeth, nasal tumors, and other 

 things are blemishes that are important to note, as they indicate 

 the location of diseases which may cause trouble after apparently 

 being cured. 



COMMON VICES 



Vices are bad habits which may make the animal dangerous 

 to himself, to associates, or to persons handling him. They are 

 often the result of improper education and ungovernable temper. 

 Vicious animals may transmit their undesirable traits, so are 

 not desirable for breeding purposes. Among the most common 

 vices of horses are the following: kicking, striking with fore feet, 

 switching, balking, biting, backing in harness, shying, running 

 away, halter pulling, weaving, rolling, crowding, pawing, blanket 

 tearing, and line hugging. 



Cribbing and windsucking are two forms of the same vice in 

 the practice of which the horse while standing draws air into 



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