540 



On Mismanagement of Farm- Horses, 



In many of the more hilly parts of the country young horses 

 at pasture are subject to a species of dislocatmi of the patella, the 

 bone being jerked inwards at every step the animal takes. In 

 very aggravated cases there is little hope of perfect recovery, as 

 there is generally knuckling over at the fetlock, which renders the 

 animal perfectly useless. It is only, however, from the most cul- 

 pable neglect that such cases assume a serious aspect ; for when 

 observed and attended to sufficiently early, they are generally 

 entirely cured by the adoption of very simple measures, such as 

 the removal of the animal to soft and level pasturages, and the 

 putting on of light shoes. The following case, which recently 

 came under my observation, shows at the same time the import- 

 ance of arriving at a correct diagnosis, and also the evil of delay- 

 ing the adoption of proper remedial measures. Several horses 

 were standing together in an innkeeper's stable, and one of them 

 made a kick at his neighbour, and struck him a few inches above 

 the hock, on the inside of the hind limb farthest from him. As, 

 however, there was little apparent lameness, and no swelling or 

 injury of the skin, the animal was put to work as usual, but was 

 soon seen to move on three legs. On examination there was found 

 to he fracture of the tibia with displacement ; and the animal was 

 destroyed. In this case the kick must have produced fracture 

 more or less complete, but without displacement ; and had the 

 nature of the case been at first fully ascertained, and the animal 

 kept at rest for a few weeks, perfect recovery would have taken 

 place. But instead of this, the animal was put to work, which 

 caused entire separation of the parts, and prevented all hope 

 of a speedy and satisfactory recovery. 



From inattention to shoeing, and neglecting to relieve a 

 tender sole from undue pressure, corns are produced. These, 

 when uncared for, multiply and reach the quick, causing much 

 lameness, and, it may be, suppuration and detachment of the 

 hoof. A trifling sandcrack, when neglected, often extends 

 through the whole crust, and months of care may be required 

 before the breach is perfectly repaired. A slight injury of the 

 anterior part of the foot, or inattention to a badly-adjusted clip, 

 frequently produces seedy-toe. Neglect of cleanliness gives rise 

 to thrushes ; and mismanaged or neglected quitters to false quarter. 



But we must now leave this head, not because we have ex- 

 hausted the subject or the illustrations that might be advanced 

 to show the evils of neglect of incipient disease^ but because a 

 further discussion of the subject would involve much repetition, 

 without strengthening materially our arguments, while the illus- 

 trations that might be adduced are numberless, seeing that the 

 principle applies to almost every disease and injury to which the 

 horse is liable. 



