Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-11-23
How to Locate Lameness in a Horse.

In examining a case of lameness, we
should, if possible, first see the horse in
the stable, and without disturbing him,
observe whether he points foot, and in
what particular manner he so fayors it.
We should then have him led from the
stable and trotted gently in hand on a
hard road or pavement, giving him his
head at the time. Having thus ascer-
tanned what leg he is lame in, we should
proceed to discover the actual seat of
the mischief. For this purpose, the
finger and thumb should be carefully
passed down the leg, from the knee to
the foot, to ascertain if there be any I'M
due heat, or enlargement, or tenderness
from pressure; we should also feel care
fully the front and sides of the pat
terms, as well as round the cOrOnet. If
a splint be the cause of lameness, the
horse will evince considerable pain when
it is pressed, and so likewise will he in
LESSONS of the sinews.
Surprising that we have found no suf-
ticient cause of lameness above, we
must now direct our attention to the
feet. In nearly every case, unless the
mischief should be very clearly eX-
hibited elsewhere, it would be advisable
to remove the shoe; the foot should then
be paired out, to ascertain if there be
any wound or bruise in it. The nail
holes should be carefully examined and
pressed with pincers, or gently struck
with hammer, to discover any symp-
toms of tenderness; the heels of the sole
should be pared down, and the parts
struck gently with hammer; this is
preferable to pressing the bar and crust
with the pincers, as is usually done, for
this often produces pain in some feet,
when there is no disease, and often fails
in causing pain in others, when there is
deep-seated corn.
After pairing awhile, the smith will
very probably say there is no corn; but
we must not be satisfied until we have
pared almost to the quick. If the horse
be very lame from a corn, he will almost
always favor the foot; but in so doing he
will not, however, extend his limb out
straight oits full length, but will elevate
the heel without extending the foot very
far, which will give a knuckling appear
ance to the limb. Should none of these
symptoms be exhibited, we must con-
slider the disease to be deep-seated, and
then it is all-important to ascertain if the
animal points his foot, for, if such is
the case, in all probability the cause of
lameness exists in the navicular Joint
supposing it was fore foot we were ex.
amining.
1t will seldom be necessary to go
through these various manipulahons
seriatim; we may sometimes pounee
upon the seat of lameness at once, and
very often detect it after a moderate eX-
animation; but there are cases that
will demand our utmost attention and
experience, and will often put to a Sc
we're test the professional talents and
tact even of the most skilled veterina-
rian.
Horses sometimes exhibit a slight
lameness Immediately after being shod,
though quite sound before. Such cases
may arise from the shoe being nailed on
too tight, and are often relieved by re-
moving the shoe and re-applying it more
gently this lamenesS most frequently
occurs in horses with very thin horn,
and is ascertained by the manner in
which 1t comes on, and the absence of
any other visible causes. The shoe in
such case may also have an improper
bearing, pressing severely on weak spots,
or on the sole or heels; or the heels or
sole may have been pared too much, or
unevenly.
Persons unaccustomed to horses, viii
more frequently pronounce the wrong
limb than the right in cases of slight
lameness. The cause of their blunders
may then be easily explained. They
perceive that horse drops the moment
one foot comes to the ground, and they
Immediately conclude that that must be
the lame one, fancying that he drops
from the pain received when it meets the
ground; whereas the fact is, he treads as
lightly as he can OF the lame foot, and
pears his whole weighton the sound one.
-PrGirss FGT4nAr