The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-07-23

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Farmers as much as any class Of
men should know what 10 look for
when looking over q horse before pur-
chasing him and should 60 about It IN
proper way. As it is. they are too aD.
to think that because they have always
had more or less 10 do with horses
that they cannot be fooled or cheated.
and are SO often too careless with the
result that they fail into traps and are
-nanclal losers. We see this al the
chicago Stock Yards. where many
farmers come 10 buy work horses and
give them less careful examination
than many city buyers. who show
great care In their purchases and em-
ploy veterinarians to help them II not
personally qualified 70 judge as 10
soundness There are a few simple
points which anyone may remember
and follow when examining a horse
70 ind II he is sound or practically
sound. See the horse IN his stall and
before be has been exercised for the
day II possible By so doing It Is
often possible to discover that the an
lmai Is a "cribber" and swindsucker."
In the same way one may catch a
case OF spawn lameness which would
not be seen were the horse allowed 10
come out Of the barn on the run and
keep going while under inspection.
Many spawned horses show the lame
ness most when made 70 get over" IN
the stall and when backing out Of the
stall This is also true Of horses af-
hicted with chorea lst Vitus dancel,
which Is not apparent when the ami
nal Is exercised. yet constitutes un-
soundness. Horses SO affected are
termed "crampy" by the horse buyers
and some OF them are so slightly ar
fected that one is sure 10 be stuck II
the examination Is not made in the
barn. BY watching the horse In bis
stall II Is also possible TO notice II ne
be a weaver" which means a horse
that is constantly weaving his head
back and forward like a captive lion
In his den. This Is 10 many people a
very Irritating habit and is certainly
unsighuy, but does not. properly
speaking, constitute unsoundness, nor
do we think It Injuries a horse Tor
work. After viewing the horse In bis
stall have him led out and examine
his eyes. Stand Ia front OF him and
with the hand pretend 70 strike the
horse below the eye trying each side
alternately. The animal will finch
the moment the motion Is made II he
can see. This Is necessary even with
horses having large. prominent eyes.
for there Is a disease called "amauro-
sis, which causes blindness from par
aiysis Of the optic nerves. yet the an
imai has a hne appearing eye Walk
slowly around the horse and note his
every point from a small distance.
Look at the contour Of his head and
neck, the lines Of bis back, the way
his shoulders are set. the manner In
which be stands upon his legs. the
shape Of bis legs. the way In which he
carries his tail, the many other points
which 90 70 make a horse attractive
or the reverse Watch him again
when walked and trotted. and n be Is
satisfactory IN these respects examine
him more carefully point BY point
when standing still Commence az
the teeth and determine bis age, or It
viii be usually sufficient 70 ascertain
whether he Is under OF over eight
years of age. Pass the finger into the /
mouth and examine BY pressure where /
the BIT would press TO see II the bars /
of the mouth llower jaw are sound. |
often the bone Is broken at this place.
and this Is usually Indicated BY an /
open sore and bad odor from retained /
decomposing saliva or bone. See that 1
the tongue is whole. not partially sew
cred: that the front teeth (lncisorsl /
do not lap over each other like the /
bill Of a parrot, for a horse SO de- /
formed cannot Craze properly. Next I
examine the corners Of the mouth 10 |
see that he ia not a hard puiler as in
dicated by q sore or call0us condition I
which indicates Juggling on the Bit I
II the teeth are much worn down IN /
an uneven manner in front Il may be /
concluded that the horse is a crlhber I
II that has not been discovered by .
watching him IN his stall, Examine
the nostrils for a tumor or polypus
may be present IN the false nostrn /
which overlies the true nostrli Il
may also show evidence OF a chronic
which If present should
lead the intending buyer 70 examine
more carefully for glanders. nasal
glui or a diseased molar tooth.