671 
CONSULTATIONS. 
No. XXIII. 
Obscure Lameness. 
Sir, — I should much wish to have your advice on the follow- 
ing case. The last day I hunted on the 27th March, my old 
black horse became lame, at trotting only. I was not aware when 
it happened, as I only discovered it when coming home slowly on 
the road. 1 did not remember when he could have hurt himself, 
except when leading him over a step in a dry stone wall, he did 
it lazily, and pulled dowm some stones after him. On arriving 
at home, we examined and could discover nothing, but that he 
winced slightly on our pressing the front (inside) of the stifle 
joint. After waiting some days, we rubbed on a little liquid blis- 
ter, since which there has been no change, the lameness being 
the same as at first. He walks very well, and brings the lame 
leg quite as far under him as the other, so that scarcely any 
thing can be challenged ; but when he trots, he drags the leg, 
steps short, halts, places it more under him than proper, bring- 
ing the outside of the foot first to the ground. He has had 
gentle aperient medicine, and is in high spirits, so much so, that, 
when led out, he jumps about, and does not fear to use his lame 
leg. We can discover no dislocation of the fetlock, fulness, or 
inflammation of any kind. 
I shall be obliged by your giving me your opinion as to the 
cause of lameness, and proper mode of treatment, in writing, as 
soon as convenient. 
I remain, your’s, &c. 
G. Benning Horne. 
Clyde Street, Edinburgh, April 26th, 1840. 
Sir, — I am unable to give you a very confident opinion re- 
garding the seat or nature of the lameness of your horse without 
seeing and handling the limb. I can only guess at it, as much 
depends on the touch ; and the swelling arising from slight inju- 
ries is often so trifling, that a person not in the regular practice 
of examining for the seat of disease may very readily overlook 
what would lead me to a decided opinion of the case. If you 
had not observed him “ wince” when the stifle was pressed, I 
should have been inclined to refer the seat of disease to the pu- 
bis ; that is, the lower part of the quarter. The symptoms you 
describe are such as are generally exhibited in that case, while 
the manner of placing his foot on the ground (that is, the “ out- 
