OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
281 
profitably employed in discussing the merits of this apparently 
trifling ailment. 
I omitted to mention—not deeming it necessary—that 
when practicable the legs and feet should be well cleansed 
from dirt, either by water or otherwise, previous to the ex¬ 
amination, as it is possible the eye may be deceived during 
the process. A slight' crack in the heel, or a fissure may 
exist in the horny part of the foot, which might escape de¬ 
tection unless this precaution be taken. Sore heels, cracked 
heels, or as some persons describe these affections, scratched 
heels, will, (although considered by many of no consequence,) 
sometimes cause a great deal of mischief. A word in season 
will tend to ward off evil consequences. Lameness is often 
the result of a sore heel, and if it should happen that a splint 
is present in the limb of the same side, it is more than 
probable the lameness will be attributed to the splint and not 
to the slight crack in the heel; these mistakes are not in¬ 
frequent. Mr. Percivall mentions a case in Part I, vol. iv, of 
his f Hippopathology,’ which will teach a better lesson than I 
am capable of doing. 
The late Mr. Henderson read a paper on the subject of 
splint, in the year 1829, at the Veterinary Medical Society, 
which contained the following observations :— iC Early in the 
spring of 1827, a Norfolk breeder, brought seven or eight 
horses to town for sale. I was requested by a gentleman to 
inspect one of them, of which he had made choice. They 
were a lot of very clever horses, and all got by old Pretender. 
There was one remarkable circumstance, they all had splints, 
but situated on the shin bone, and, as far as regards lameness, 
they were all perfectly sound. I mean to say, not one of them 
was lame; and, therefore, I considered them sound. I passed the 
one in question (a mare), and she always remained sound, and 
gave satisfaction. A fewdays afterthis, a gentleman called upon 
me to ask if I could recommend him a horse to carry a lady. 
Having seen one belonging to the breeder to whom I have just 
alluded, I took the gentleman to the stable, accompanied by 
his friend and servant. After they had all three ridden the 
horse, approved of him, notwithstanding he had a splint on 
each leg of large dimensions, which was pointed out to them, 
they bought him. On the third day I found the whole 
party at my house exceedingly angry, the horse was lame, and 
it was insisted that the dealer should take him back. It ap¬ 
peared that the horse was sent the day before to the college; 
it had left the gentleman’s stables sound, but on arriving at 
the college he was discovered lame in consequence of the 
splint, and the gentleman was recommended, immediately to 
xxxvii. 19 
