Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-10-21
A SOUND HORSE.

Suggestions and Directions For Detecting
Equine Defects and Diseases.
A horse may be temporarily unsound
OF permanently unsound.
Temporary unsoundness may include
certain diseases of which, after the ami
NAL has recovered, little or no trace re-
mains 1t also includes certain forms of
lameness, as interfering, slight sprains,
etc., which subside in short while. In
examination it is necessary to look for
disease, malformation, etc., and not for
soundness
The horse to be examined should be
seen, first, at rest in and out of the stall;
second in motion both when warmed
up and when cooled off-that is, exam
ined in motion while hot and also when
cold.
Ascertain how the animal feeds
while at rest in the stall-if he cribs,
sucks wind or weaves. Notice his posi-
tion Of standing and watch him while
backing out of the stall to see whether
there is dragging of the feet or other Pc
culiar actions.
On the floor have nothing on the
horse but a halter Take a general
glance at the animal, noting the posi-
ton of the extremities, color, size and
general outline. Then proceed to exam
inc part by part commencing at the
head, not forgetting to compare one side
with the other as the examination pro-
crosses
In examining the head note the shape,
and condition of the bones of the face,
the shape and condition Of the eyes, the
pupils, the ears, the mucous membrane
Of the nasal cavity, noting the color and
looking for liberation, growths, etc. !;
then examine the contents of the mouth,
the age, shape, size and wearing sur
faces of the teeth, and examine the bars
for fractures, and then pass to the in
termaxillary space, feeling the pulse,
the condition of the lower jaw, wheth-
er thickened or thinned Examine the
glands in this region, then the poll, the
throat, the condition of the glands, not
forgetting to cause the animal to cough
and remembering the kind of cough.
Pass along the neck, note the condition
of the name, the jugular groove, the
trachea. Look over the shoulders for
marks of setuns, wasting of muscles;
the elbows (for capped elbow; the knee
for fractures, Inflammation, ETC. ; the
shin bones for splints; the tendons for
their condition; the fetlock for frac-
lures, swellings, scars of neurotomy,
etc. then look for side bones, ringbones,
etc.. and finally the general outline of
the feet, as regards size, shape, ETC.,
and in particular for toe cracks, quarter
cracks, results of laminitis, navicular
disease, etc.
Next take the body under observa-
ton, remembering to examine both
sides, first the withers, looking for
marks of setons, swellings, ETC., then
the condition of the ribs Test the heart
and lungs, look at the abdomen for her
mia, etc., and then the flank, noting the
respirations, whether quickened, slow,
irregular and the like.
Next stand behind the animal and ex-
anime the hips for fractures, swellings,
etc., then the hip joints, remembering
to compare one side with the other. Elk
anime the tail to see if false, look under
the tail for tumors, the flank for her
MIA, tumors, etc. the stiles for swell
ings, dislocations, the hooks for spavins,
thoroughpins, curbs, then pass down
ward, noting the condition of the parts
in the front limbs
Have the animal trotted by the halter
in as straight line as possible in
slow, easy trot, allowing the horse
about one foot of rope, SO as not to in
terfere with the action The animal
should be trotted away from the exam
liner, at which time the movements of
the posterior extremities may be noted
and when trotted toward him the move
ments of the anterior extremities
When the animal is warmed up, lame
ness may not be shown, while if cooled
off it manifests itself, and vice versa.
Next have the animal galloped to test
his wind. See if the breathing is fast,
irregular or noisy. Do not forget to ex-
anime the eyes Northwestern Agri-
culturist