Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-06-15
WHEN BUYING HORSES.
European Authority Says That Lame.
ness La Best Discovered by Nov
Ing in a Circle.

As it has been the rule in this coun-
try horse for lameness by walking
and trotting the animal in a straight
line, to and fro, usually on hard pave
ment, and with lead halter or bride
only, the recently expressed views of
Prof. Zurn, director of the veterinary
clinical school of Leipzig, are pertinent
and instructive. He strongly recon-
mends that the horse should not be
walked along straight line, but
chiefly in circle; then the higher and
lower parts of the limbs outside and
inside the circle are equally weighted.
For example. if, during this ring exer-
else, the hating of the lower leg in
creases on account of the greater
weight, the ailment resides in the low
er part (hoof, coronet or pastern); on
the contrary, If the halting of the out
side leg increases, the seat of the all
ment is in the higher region shoulder,
haunch); greater amount of strength
is required to remove this limb, and
one can understand that the extern
sion and supporting of the foot is more
difficult. After having examined the
horse in motion, you must explore the
limb with the hand, in order to assure
yourself if you do not perceive any
sign Of heat, whether or not there are
traces of wounds or confusion, invisi-
BILE swelling, whether or not pressure
OF the fingers causes abnormal pain.
Inflammation of the Emphatic vessels
lin the vicinity Of the extremities under
the hook, ring bones, ETC., may also
cause hating. Under the influence of
persistent hating 1t may happen that
certain muscles, particularly those be-
hind the hook, will decrease in volume,
because atrophied. This atrophy of the
muscles is caused not merely-as many
belie]e-by complete paralysis of the
shoulder and hook. but particularly,
and In most cases, it is due to anklylosis
OF these joints. In this explora ton of
the hating limb with the hand an ex-
cellent sign is given by the pulsation Of
the artery situated on the interior of
the canon in the hind limb. If the
pulse is feeble and little perceptible,
the cause Of lameness is in the top part
OF the limb; If strong and slightly per-
ceptible, the seat of the ailment is in
the lower part, and generally in the
hoof. Horses with hating foot place
1t down reluctantly; the pain they
manifest is sometimes greater while
resting on the toe, and sometimes
while on the heel, according as the suf-
fering part is front or back of the hoof.
Horses limping from the hook bend the
pastern Joint completely.
corn on Pasture Land.
1t is claimed that pasture land that
Is run down will be improved if a
crop OF corn is grown upon the field,
but the beneficial effects from the
corn are no doubt more apparent
than real. All poor soils that are al
lowed to remain uncultivated until
some kind of volunteer crop (if only
weeds) take possession will gain in
Fertility to certain extent. Such n
system is known as "fallowing," or
resting the SOIL Growing a crop of
corn simply induces cultivation ard
puts the soil in better condition, al |
though the land will have already /
been improved by the following.