The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-22
BILLINGSTONE'S BREAKDOWN, AND THE CAUSE
Story Of the English Turf
From London TRUTH.

examining the affected leg. He punched
it, squeezed it, stroked it, stared az It
on every side and in every position. He
looked into the hoof with pocket micro
scope. but he could detect nothing. Then
he told Jim to put the animal through
his PAGES.
The colts lameness was com paratively
slight. When he was walking you could
not notice 1t at all. When he was trotting
or cantering it was scarcely perceptible,
but when he was extended in a gallop
you coulo see the mischief pretty clearly.
The fstlock of the near forelsg then fe-
came slightly bent and contracted. as if
the colt were trying to save mis- hoof from
contact with the ground.
I'm very. much afraid, Sir JOHN" said
Mr.. Batters. shaking his head. that this
IS the old constitutional mischief crop
ping up again. Dear-dear-it is q pity.
And I thought he was completely cured"
But how the devil do you explain an
affection like this. Batters?" demanded
the earl. pcrplexedly. From what you
and Sir John have told me this colt has
a predisposition to go lame at certain ir-
certible cause and without producing any
perceptible soreness IA the leg. It's q
deivlIsh uncommon thing, isn't it?"
VERY uncommon" asserted Mr.. Bat
tiers. Il never came across case like it
before. 1t is obvious that there is nothing
only account for this periodical lameness
as being an affection of the nerves. which
is dependent on the colts general health.
l understand that his dam was a highly
nervous mare; was she not, Sir John?"
"Devilish,' replied the baionet. with
Blank? Molly Muddles. Smartesr little
mare l ever had. But could never train
her for race. Too excitable. Always
broke down."
ITO be sure; recollect her." said the
earl. And do you think the colt inner
her?''
II can't account for it in any other
way" replied Batters. "If he were hu-
man subject, I should call his affection
hysteria.
SIN other words" said the earl, you
think that this lameness of his is neither
more nor less than a nerovus fancy?''
Fancy? Yes. In the sense that it is
not physical. But, of course. 1t produces
the same result as If it were real and OBJ
jective."
''Well, do you think il is likely to be
long or short attack, Batters?" inter-
posed the baronet. anxiousIy. That is
what is most to the point just now"
impossible to say, Sir John" replied
the vet. when was attending the colt
last year noticed that th csc attacks of his
sometimes lasted for a week, sometimes
only two or three days and sometimes
but moro rarely-for less than twenty -four
hours. But there was never any means of
determining how long they would last.
for they always passed off just as sud.
denly as they came on. All We can do is
to hope that this Is one of the shortest"
mo such luck, dare swear" NUT
tered Sir John Cowseil, morosely. Its
too doosld rough -pon my soul it Is,
when ones got tolerable cert for about
the richest lace of the year, to be sold in
this way at the last minute. Damn this
silly nervousness OF the colts, l say
damn. damn. and damn it!''
Cant anything be done?" inquired
the earl, who had money on Billingston
and was not desirous to lose it.
well. you can rub the fetIock with
EN- brocation, and tie it up with q cold
water bandsgs. II you like" answered
the vet. And. of course. the colt must
do no more work today"