300 
REVIEW—LAMENESS IN THE HORSE. 
remarkable infiltration into the surrounding integument. A 
careful and deliberate examination, however, will seldom fail to 
detect heat, if not swelling, of the joint affected, or in its imme¬ 
diate vicinity ; and there is no better way of arriving at this 
ascertainment—one of the utmost importance to us in determining 
the nature of the case—than that of repeatedly comparing the 
grasp and feel of the supposed lame joint with the correspondent 
joint of the sound limb : one feels wanner and rounder or fuller 
than the other, the perception of its natural prominences being 
obscured or obliterated by this fulness. Should the joint be 
one of those incased within the hoof, out of the reach of the 
hand, though no fulness be perceptible upon the coronet, still 
heat may be felt there or within the hollow of the heel, to a 
greater amount in one foot than the other : added to which, in a 
case of foot lameness, it is of great importance that we should pay 
every attention to the form and condition of the hoof. It is pos¬ 
sible that, by compression or some artificial motion given to the 
supposed lame joint, we may succeed in eliciting some further 
indications of tenderness in it: these are signs, however, upon 
which we cannot often rely. When we come to talk about the 
animal's “ flinching” from this or that twist or squeeze of the 
hand, there is apt to be so much deception from some unusual 
sensitive or nervousness or fear the horse may evince under 
examination, or else from iack of these attributes, that it is diffi¬ 
cult, in most cases perhaps impossible, to come to any safe con¬ 
clusions from such manipulations.” 
Of the causes and progress of the disease in question we have 
a most full and satisfactory history ; the various modes of treat¬ 
ment are practically stated, and their comparative merits impar¬ 
tially considered. There is no empiricism ; not a remedy is given 
without the principle on which it is recommended being given 
also ; and the straightforward manner in which the uncertainty and 
inefficacy of some of these are pointed out is highly praise¬ 
worthy. 
The promise of further investigation into rheumatism in horses 
we shall not forget: fully agreeing as we do with our author, that 
it is an affection much more frequently met with than practitioners 
in general are aware of, the consideration of this, and lame¬ 
nesses depending on disease of some of the chylopoietic viscera, 
will form valuable addenda to the author’s labours, and we may 
expect to find some new and important views arise from them. 
