Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-14
Examina alton Of H"r<es for Pur
chase.

Having lou,.d mr., w. -~"x - T.
SIZE. aprrrnt 'irr'-'"'
seem suitable to your pirpo.", We VIII no"
proceed to give such information AZ VIII
enable the buyer, by careful examination'
to RECOGNIZES those defects, benlshes,',symp-
toms and appearances, which latent disease
and injuries assume, and thus prepare him
to detect III. multitIiinouS imr''1lons
which have been Escorted 10 by The lower
class of dealers, to disguise inilcations oil
unsoundness.
Unless proper precautlon is used IN the
examination of horses for purchase, the
law will not protect man tor the conse-
ouences of his own neglect; and 1t has
been held that warranty against apparent
defects is bad in law, and the purchaser
being expected not only to possess ordi-
nary skill, but exhibit ordinary caution
A defective horse is dear at any price,
whilst the value of good one, is, as com
pared with bad one, as inhnity to nothing.
In choosing horse let the buyer be ever
so good a Judge, and his inspection ever
so minute, he must take some things on
trust. A perfect knowledge can only be
obtained on trial, which should always be
taken, if possible, but which is not always
to be had. For instance, some horses,
when turned off six or seven years old are
subject to a dry chronic cough, which
comes on at uncertain times, perhaps
twice or thrice day, sometimes after
feeding or drinking or changes of tenn
perature may induce il, as when he comes
into, or goes out Of stable Occasionally
dose of physic, and in some cases little
attention to his diet, will prevent re-occur-
ence of his cough for two or three days, OF
even weeks, when it will reappear.
With a respectable dealer, after using
your eyes and discretion, you had better
depend on the warranty, and his charac-
ter, than by any unnecessary display o
suspicion, Extensively question his honesty
Nevertheless as the trade is taken up by
needy gentlemen of good standing in so
ciety, and broken down blacklegs, of re,
spectacle connections, who are ever ready
to give a warranty not worth dump, OF
satisfaction, if you are dissatisfied; or /
YOU have reasons to suspect the horse, Of
his master, the directions laid down viii
be found useful. Always bear in minC
that the observation Of one symptom
should induce the examiner to follow
up the inquiry into those other symptoms
which are characteristic Of the suspected
| disease, defect or unsoundness.
The best time to view horse is early
in the morning, in the stables, as then i
there is any stiffness in the joints, or ten
dency to swelled legs it will be most APP
parent.
The horse should always be examined
Il from a state Of rest. If there are any
symptoms of his having been previously
exercised, such as sweat about his withers
or his legs have been recently washed, i
is advisable he should be left in his stall
till cool for there is more than one spe
cies of lameness, which becomes less ap
parent after exercise, and where there is
; tendency to swelled legs a smart trot ant
f grooming will fine his legs, and rende
them clean.
This precautionary measure is more es
pecially to be taken when you suspec
your man for in horse-buying we have t
deal with gentry who are acquainted witt
the science of the imposition in all its ram
ifcations. A stable examination is tn
best for observing indications of wind
sucking, crib biting, chronic cough, tn
state of the respiration and for discover
ing vice.
For this purpose, always have a hers
shown quietly when there is much nois
F and hustle, there is generally somethin!
wrong and when the animal is agitated
slight lameness will escape the eye.
The first thing to be observed is, tina
when standing evenly, the weight j
thrown equally on both feet. If there b
anv complaint in the fore feet, one wi
probably be pointed that is extended be
q fore the other, or he will frequently alte
the position of them taking one up an
setting the other down or the hind leg
will be brought under the body to reliev
the fore feet of some portion of the weight
ANY of these symptoms will direct you
attention to the feet when you see hr
out.
To Judge his respiration it is necessar
to be ACQUAINTED with the indications {
health. Observe if the flank alternatel
rises and falls with regularity. In health
the respiration of the horse is from four t
eight per minute, average six in the day
time; during sleep it is hardly more tina
, four Ifquicker than ordinary, it betok er
present fever, Other symptoms Will be de
o ve!oped, such as increased pulse, heat {
mouth and dullness, while the delicate pin
appearance which the membrane GOVERN
! the partition of the nostrils assumes i
= health, will be increased in color.
But if none of these symptoms Of Ill
health are present, and yet the hors
heaves at the flank more than ordinary,
the weather be moderate, and the stab
not oppressively hot, it is probable such
{ horse is thlckwlnded.
When inspiration appears to be pei
! formed readily and quickly as in healt
by a single action, but expiration wit
I difficulty by an irregular and prolonge
? movement, or double action, the respira
$ tory muscles appearing as if iut,rrupte
in the act of expelling the air, and the
the flank drops suddenly, it is symptor
! OF broken wind. His cough should the
. be tried. The cough of a broken winde
q horse is a peculiar low hollow grunt, diff
! cult to describe, but when once heard
easily recognized,-Amertcon Stock Jou'
p mol.
Miss Lizzie Williams, a graduate
Vassar college in 1869, has become men
Der of the faculty of the Leavenwortl
Kansas, agricultural college.