360 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
from lifting and projecting the lame fore limb in the manner and 
with the freedom he does the sound one — “ he cannot get it 
forward,” as horse-folks say ; i. e. forward in a direct line without 
pain, to avoid which he, as Solleysell has truly described it, 
“ makes a circle with it,” brings it forward with a sort of sweep, 
and perhaps some trail of the toe upon the ground as well. 
But it may be endeavoured to elicit pain by pressing or squeezing 
or moving about the shoulder. Solleysell tells us to “ take hold 
of the fore limb, and make it go backwards and forwards, that we 
may perceive how the shoulder can be moved, and whether or not 
the horse does not complain of pain or shrink while such motions 
are being performed.” All this is usually done nowadays, and by 
veterinarians ; though we must confess our diminished faith in 
tests like these compared with such as are afforded by action, and 
the absence of any cause or suspicion for lameness elsewhere. 
Diagnosis. Strange as it may appear to persons out of the 
veterinary profession, it is notorious enough to those in it, that no 
two kinds of lameness have so frequently been confounded as foot 
lameness and shoulder lameness ; the best explanation we can 
offer of which seemingly unpardonable error in judgment, probably, 
is to be found in the fact of there being “ nothing to be seen” to 
account for the lameness either in one or the other. “ The usual 
wav,” says Solleysell, “ to know whether the grief be in the 
shoulder or foot, is to observe whether the lameness be increased 
or abated by exercise ; for if it be in the shoulder the horse will 
halt least while he is heated with riding; but if in the foot he will 
halt most when he is ridden.” This, so far as it goes, is good. But 
w’e must have other marks of distinction. We must observe the 
gait in the trot ; mark whether the lame limb be carried outward 
or not. Next we should inquire if there be any pointing of the 
toe, any hurt of the foot, or any signs of shelving in or rimminess 
of the wall of the hoof, symptoms which, in the absence of the 
sweep of the limb in action, would at once draw our attention to 
the foot. Furthermore, the same horse may be made to perform 
movements especially trying to the shoulders, such as running 
round a circle while held in hand, or passaging, or backing, some 
one or all of which may possibly more perceptibly elicit the lame- 
ness or expression of pain. As for “ wasting of the shoulder,” a 
symptom by farriers and grooms in general laid great stress on, it 
is at best but a remote consequence of lameness, which may be in 
the foot or leg, and not necessarily in the shoulder: the explanation 
of the “ wasting” being simply the loss or diminution from absorp- 
tion of the fleshy fibres of muscles, which, instead of having their 
healthful exercise, are compelled to be laid up in a state of inac- 
tivity, or even absolute repose. 
